Suranjoy leads Indian boxing challenge in SAF Games

Asian champion Suranjoy Singh will spearhead a seven-strong Indian boxing challenge at the 11th South Asian Games, commencing from January 29 in Dhaka.

Suranjoy (51kg), also the first Indian to win the gold medal and the Best Boxer trophy at the inter-continental President's Cup, is currently in Patiala where he is training with the core group of boxers for the Commonwealth Games later this year.

Apart from the 22-year-old, India's medal hopes at the SAF Games will also rest on national champion and Asian Championship quarterfinalist Chhote Lal Yadav (57kg).

A few greenhorns have also been included in the team like Amandeep Singh, who will compete in the light fly weight (48kg) division.

Top boxers like Olympic and world championship bronze medallist Vijender Singh (75kg) and veteran Akhil Kumar (56kg), both of whom won gold medals in the last edition of the competition in 2006, have been rested this time as they recuperate from minor niggles and continue their preparation for the upcoming Commonwealth Championships in New Delhi.

"We have selected a mixed team and have decided to keep the top guys out so that they prepare for the Commonwealth Championships and the Commonwealth Games after that," Indian Boxing Federation Secretary General Col Pk Muralidharan Raja said.

National coach Gurbaksh Singh Sandhu will accompany the team and would be assisted by Railways coach Jagdish Singh Malik.

Indian boxers had clinched four gold, four silver and a bronze medal in the 2006 edition.

The team: Amandeep Singh (48kg), Suranjoy Singh (51kg), Chhote Lal Yadav (57kg), Dilbagh Singh (69kg), Kuldeep Singh (75kg), Manpreet Singh (91kg), Parveen Kumar (+91kg).