Boxing Nationals: Pangal out, Shiva, Kaushik renew rivalry

Commonwealth Games champion Amit Pangal will skip the elite men’s national boxing championship, which starts in Hisar on Saturday. Suffering from a shoulder injury, Pangal decided to take time off to recover and prepare for his busy 2023.

As the Asian Games scheduled for September-October will be the first qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympics, there are 7 Olympic weight categories (51kg, 57kg, 63.5kg, 71kg, 80kg, 92kg, +92kg). Focused.

“For boxers, their success will give them a big chance to be called up to the national training camp. Next year we have the World Championships and the Asian Games, so this will be the beginning of a new cycle for us,” said the men’s boxing team. ‘s Narender Rana head coach said.

Without Pangal, who made an impressive comeback this year with the Birmingham CWG, and 2019 Asian Boxing Championship silver medalist Deepak Kumar Bhoria, recovering from injury, the flyweight (51kg) would be open to young people. chance.

At featherweight (57kg), CWG bronze medalist Mohd Hussamuddin is the favorite. The veteran of the boxer’s service he is in top form in 2022, recently winning a bronze medal at the Asian Championships in Amman. He will likely be tested by former World Youth Champion Sachin Siwatch, who has stepped up from 54kg.

“I’ve beaten Husamuddin before, but it’s always good to have a competitor like him. I prepared well and I’m going to do my best,” said Siwach, who represents the railway.

In the light welterweight (63.5kg) division, fierce rival Shiva Thapa will face Tokyo Olympics manish Kaushik. It will be a come-from-behind tournament for Kaushik. The 2019 World Championship bronze medalist is out for a long time with a right arm injury. Both pitted in the top half of the draw, meaning they could face each other in the semi-finals. It will be a big test for Kaushik to face Tapa, who recently won her sixth Asian Championship medal in Amman. Shiva injured his right knee during the Continental Games, but made a full recovery.

Former Asian champions Sanjeet (92kg) and Raksha Chahar (80kg) will be aiming to win their respective divisions.

The super heavyweight (+92kg) category also sees fierce competition from CWG silver medalist Sagar Ahrawat and Asian Championship bronze medalist Narender Berwal.