Hyderabad, October 26: They are the unsung heroes of our State. Young and raring to go. The 11-member squad from the State is all set for the 56th National Boxing Championship that will be inaugurated at Saroonagar Indoor Stadium on Monday. The bouts will begin from Tuesday evening.
Coaches Omkar Yadav and Srikanth Reddy are confident of a good performance in this year’s nationals. “We have a put in a lot of effort for this nationals. We have emphasized on scientific training that will help the pugilists perform well. We expect to win at least five to six medals this time,” said Yadav.
Reddy said they have been focusing on physical and mental fitness. “We have been working on the strategies and fitness. It is important for a boxer to be quick and fit. We are aware of the challenges and our boxers will rise to the occasion,” said Reddy.
The boxers were presented with track suits from Vijay Boxing Academy. “Most of the boxers hail from poor families. I understand the importance of a proper kit because I myself suffered when I was a young boxer. These small gestures make them happy,” said Abhinash Kumar, the former international boxer.
Members of the AP team that is taking part are: Light fly: S Ramu. Fly: K Santosh, Bantam: Santosh. Feather: Chandikesava Rao. Light: Madan Mohan. Light Welter: V Santosh. Welter: Lokesh Raj. Middle: D Naren. Lightwelter: Srinivas. Heavy: Vikram Singh. Super heavy: Narender Yadav.
According to Yadav, there are high hopes on V Santosh in light weight. He is a bronze medalist in the Pune Youth Commonwealth Games. Boxers likers N Santhosh (bantam), Narender Yadav (super heavy) are also hopeful of a good performance. Narender had upset Asian Games gold medalist Johnson in the last Nationals. “Narender is one of the medal winners in the last nationals and brimming with confidence,” said Reddy.
According to Reddy, Ramu is fast with his reflexes in the light fly category. Some of the other pugilists like Santosh (fly), who was a bronze medalist in 2007 Nationals, and C K Reddy, are experienced boxers. For C K Reddy it is the fourth nationals. It will be first time experience for boxers like debutants like Vikram and V Naresh.
—Agencies