Indian boxers set to kick-off season

Indian boxers are set to begin their 2013 season with a couple of international exposure tours leading up to the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships in June, where the participation of the Indian team has been sanctioned by the International Boxing Association (AIBA).

Over 50 Indian pugilists have been engaged in the final phase of Indian Boxing Federation's (IBF) groundwork chalked out for the preparations of the World Championships and other big events at the National Institute of Sports, Patiala.

The men's boxing team is slated to take part in two tournaments this month. A 11 member team consisting of nine boxers and two coaches left New Delhi Monday to take part in Khabarovsk International Competition in Russian scheduled to be held from May 15-20.

Another 10 boxers and two coaches will leave for Cyprus Wednesday for the Invitation FXTM International Limassol Boxing Cup being held in Limassol from May 15-20.

India was expected to take part in Cardova Cardin, a training-cum-competition programme at Havana, Cuba from May 27 - June 17. However, the team would not be travelling to Cuba as the tour has not been sanctioned by AIBA.

National coach G.S. Sandhu also believes these exposure tours will be instrumental in the team's preparation for the Asian Championships and the World Championships.

"These tournaments will be our first international competitions since the London Olympics and will play a significant role in getting our boys back into in competitive rhythm. They will work as build-up contests for the mega events where we want our boxers to peak and perform up to their potential," said Sandhu.