By IANS
New Delhi : Eight Indian boxers left Friday for an 11-day training stint in Kazakhstan in preparation for the world boxing championships to be held in Chicago from Oct 17.
"It is the most important tournament before us. Not only are they the world championships where 115 countries have confirmed their participation, there are qualifying berths for the 2008 Beijing Olympics up for grabs," Indian Amateur Boxing Federation secretary general Col. P.K. Muralidharan Raja told IANS.
Col. Raja explained that all boxers who reach the quarterfinals in their respective weight categories automatically qualify for the Olympics.
"These are the best boxers we have in the country at the moment. They will train in Kazakhstan and then go on to China for a tournament. But the important thing for them will be the national championships in Delhi from Aug 25 when the winners book their berth for the world championships," he added.
Briefing the boxers just before their departure, the IABF official was at pains to drive home the importance of the training stint in Kazakhstan which has come about thanks to the sponsorship from the Mittal Champions Trust, a sports promotion venture by London-based industrialist Laxmi Mittal.
The boarding and lodging plus other expenses for the boxers and the coach will be borne by the Mittal Trust that is using business ties in the country to facilitate the trip.
The boxers will then travel directly to China to take part in an Olympic dress rehearsal tournament in Xinjian from Aug 2 to 8.
The squad: Sanjay Kolte (48kg), Jitender Kumar (51), Akhil Kumar (54), Diwakar Prasad (57), Jai Bhagwan (60), Manoj (64), Vijender 75), Dinesh (81). Coach: Jaidev Bisht (Delhi).