In the pre-Olympics year,multiple World champion and Olympic bronze medallist M. C. Mary Komand several other Indian stars will be keen to make the most of theexperience of competing in an international event at home when theyparticipate in the India Open boxing tournament beginning at theKarmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Indoor Stadium here on Monday.
With the men and women's Worldchampionships – which are likely to be the Olympic qualifyingevents – set to be held in Russia in September and Octoberrespectively, the $70,000 tournament will serve as a fine preparatoryevent.
“I will gain experience from here andwill give my best. My target is 2020 Olympics. I want to win a goldmedal for the country. It's a great opportunity not just for theelite boxes but also for the youngsters,” said Mary, who wouldcompete in 51kg, here on Sunday.
Local boy and former Worldchampionships bronze medallist Shiva Thapa, who will feature in 60kgbut is likely to jump to 63kg, was excited to compete at home after2016 when he had secured the National title.
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“My new style has benefitted me.People love attacking boxing and I working on it,” said Shiva.
Other top male boxers such as AsianGames and Asian championships gold medallist Amit Panghal (52kg),World championships bronze medallist Gaurav Bidhuri (56kg), Asianchampionships silver medallists Kavinder Singh Bisht (56kg) andAshish Kumar (75kg) will also be seen in action among the 35 Indiansin fray.
Of the 37 Indian women in fray, champion L. Sarita Devi (60kg), Asian champion Pooja Rani (whoswitched from 81kg to 75kg), Worlds medallists Sonia Chahal (57kg),Simranjit Kaur (who changed from 64kg to 60kg) and local girl LovlinaBorgohain (69kg) are some of the prominent faces.
Conceptualised to give internationalcompetition to maximum Indian boxers, the second edition of the eventhas attracted some fine overseas boxers including the Uzbek trio ofAsian Games gold medallists Bobo Baturov and Mirzakhalilov Mirazizbekand Jasurbek Latipov, Youth Olympic champion Brian Agustin Arregui ofArgentina, World champion Josie Gabuco of Philippines and Worldsbronze medallist Decha Butdee of Thailand.
India's chief performance directorSantiago Nieva counted the merits of the event. “In a single eventwe get more international bouts than we get in four-fiveinternational exposures. This tournament is an important preparationfor the World championships,” said Nieva.
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