IBF Press Release
Indian Women Pugilists Gear Up For Upcoming Events
Women?s boxing is all set to make its Olympic debut this year at the London 2012 Games. For India, the sport is being touted as one of the best bets for another Olympic Medal. The boxing starlets of the country are leaving no stones unturned to make sure they measure up to the expectations. Over 40 Indian women pugilists are engaged in the final phase of IABF's preparation and groundwork chalked out for the mega event at the National Institute of Sports in Patiala, Punjab. The road to London is not going to be easy with just eight (8) quota place awarded to Asia, but the numbers are not too daunting for these women fighters. For them nothing is greater than a chance to represent their nation at the biggest sporting extravaganza in the world.

The AIBA Women?s World Championship that is slated to be held in the Chinese city of Qinhuangdao will act as the only qualifier for the London Olympiad for Women?s boxing. Top eight boxers in each weight category at the Championships will obtain a quota place within the confines of the number allocated to each continent. Chief Coach Anoop Kumar and Coach D Chander Lal along with other National Coaches are making sure the preparations at the camp are top notch. The Core group that consists of boxers in the three Olympic weight categories boast of veteran players like five time and current World Champion MC Mary Kom (51kg), former world champions L Sarita Devi (60kg) and Jenny RL (75kg) along with a mix of upcoming boxers like Arafura Games gold medallist Pinky Jangra (51kg), Asian Cup bronze medallist Neetu Chahal (60kg) and Arafura Games silver medallist Pooja Rani (75kg). Coach Anoop Kumar said that the preparatory camp will to go on till the Olympics with a few breaks in between. He stated that the core of the training at this point of time is on speed, endurance and strength. He added, ?With the change in the scoring system it is imperative for a boxer to be on the top of her offensive game and that is what we are concentrating on at the camp.

The immediate focus at the camp is the ASBC Asian Confederation Women?s Boxing Championship that will be held in Mongolia from 16th ? 26th March 2012. The sixth edition of the Asian Championships will serve as a preparatory ground for the qualifying event. Coach Chander Lal said that the Asian Championships will be the big litmus test for the Indian Women before the World Championships and the Olympic Games. He further added, ?The Continental Championships has been a happy hunting ground for India and although the championship will be very competitive this time around, we hope to do well again. He also said, ?The event will be a good exposure and will help us to further assess our pugilists?.

With a historic fifth successive World Championship gold medal under her belt Mary Kom is hungry for a spot on the Olympic podium. The 28 year old mother of two is training hard and seems determined to bag the title of an Olympic Champion. Mary?s most potent weapon inside the ring has been her aggressive offense and the ability to dominate her opponents with it. She is expected to make history once again by adding another feather to her already studded cap.

Another exceptional women boxer, who has an array of International and National accolades to her name, is L Sarita Devi. The four times Asian Champion has recently shifted to 60 kilogram weight category from 51 kilograms ? A move, she says, has suited her body structure and game well. ?I started my career in the 57 weight category and then played in 51kg. But I have had difficulties maintaining the weight over the years. After consulting our coach, D Chandra Lal and careful consideration I have decided to make this move?. For Sarita too like every other woman pugilist the Olympic qualification is of utmost importance and the 29 year old, like her Manipur comrade is leaving nothing to chance to make sure she makes the cut. ?The World Champion is the big test and we are training very hard for it. But for me the Asian Championships, in March, will be the first major assessment in this weight division and I am quite confident of a good performance?. 

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