Thapa, Mandeep in Indian boxing team for Asian meet

Defending champion Shiva Thapa (56 kg) and 2014 Commonwealth Games silver medallist Mandeep Jangra (69 kg) were on Tuesday picked in India's 10-member team for the Asian Boxing Championships to be held in Bangkok from August 24 to September 6.

In the 75 kg division, the country will miss the services of 2008 Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh, who recently turned professional but will have their hopes pinned on Vikas Krishan, who has replaced the veteran pugilist.

Besides the trio, last edition's silver medal winner L. Devendro Singh (49 kg) was also picked.

The selection of boxers was made on the basis of trials held on July 17 and 18 at Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Patiala.

The selection was made by former greats Gopal Devang, who is the chairman of the selection commission, Padam Bahadur Mall, vice chairman, and Rajkumar Sangwan. Head coach Gurbaksh Singh Sandhu was also present during the trials.

The team will leave for Bangkok on August 24 and come back on September 6.

List of Boxers: L. Devendro Singh (49 kg), Madan Lal (52 kg), Shiva Thapa (56 kg), Manish Kaushik (60 kg), Manoj Kumar (64 kg), Mandeep Jangra (69 kg), Vikas Krishan (75 kg), Kuldeep Singh (81 kg), Manpreet Singh (91 kg), Satish Kumar (+91 kg).