By IANS
Chicago : Eight Indian pugilists will be in action at the World Championships, starting here Tuesday, which will also offer berths for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
The championship will be held from Oct 23 to Nov 3.
The eight-member team is hard hit by the last minute pull out of national light welterweight champion Som Bahadur Pun due to illness.
But India still has medal hopes from Balbir (48 kg), Jitender (51 kg), S. Suresh (54 kg), A.L. Lakra (57 kg), Jai Bhagwan (60 kg), Dilbag Singh (69 kg), Vijender (75 kg) and Jasveer Singh (81 kg).
“The World Boxing Championships will not only draw attention to Chicago, it also will draw attention to the sport of boxing — a great sport that builds strength, endurance, fitness and self-confidence,” said Mayor Richard Daley.
Chicago will have five eight-foot statues-nicknamed K.O. Joe that will be put up around the city during the tournament to promote boxing.
“Chicago is a great sports town and a very diverse city. We look forward to hosting athletes from all over the world, and I can guarantee they’ll be made to feel at home in our city,” Daley added.
The World Boxing Championships will have nearly 700 boxers from more than 120 countries and the eleven-day event will be the largest world boxing championships in history.