Manoj only new face in boxing

A bronze medalist in this year’s National Championships,Manoj’s first arrived on the national scene when he won a bronze medal at the Asian Boxing Championship in 2007. Manoj then claimed another bronze in the Czech Grand Prix in April,2009. A quarter-final spot in the Chemistry Cup in Germany,saw Manoj tighten his grip in the 64 kg category. But a slip in form meant that the boxer’s hold on the top spot weakened as Balwinder asserted himself.

“The 2009 European tour was also a great learning process for me and I guess that experience will come handy in CWG. The 64 Kg category will see a lot of competition in the CWG and I want to fetch a medal for my country,” said Manoj. Apart from Manoj,the team also features Suronjoy Singh,Indian most successful boxer last year with six gold medals in international tournaments along with Beijing bronze medalist Vijender and Beijing quarter-finalist Akhil Kumar.

Akhil out of Asiad squad
“The team for the Asian Games differs in only three names. Chhote comes in for Akhil,V Santhosh Kumar comes in for Manoj Kumar in 64kg and Vikas Krishan comes in for Jai Bhagwan in 60kg. That is because these three boys did very well in the trials. Chhote,Vikas and Santhosh were very good and they deserved to be given a chance,” Indian Boxing Federation’s Secretary General P K Muralidharan Raja said.

18-year-old Vikas,a world youth champion and a bronze medalist from the inaugural Youth Olympics,made the cut for the Asian Games ahead of the more experienced Commonwealth champion Jai Bhagwan.

“Vikas reached for the trials on the same day he landed in India after the Youth Olympics and he still managed to put up a good show. He holds tremendous promise for the future,” said Col Raja. The team,which is currently training at NIS,Patiala is expected to leave for Delhi around mid-September. “With most of the teams announced for the CWG,we are happy that the team has finally been announced. We have been training at the new air conditioned hall at NIS and we are looking towards playing in front of the home crowd. It will certainly boost our confidence,” said Suronjoy.

The teams:
Commonwealth Games:Amandeep Singh (49kg),Suranjoy Singh (52kg),Akhil Kumar (56kg),Jai Bhagawan (60kg),Manoj Kumar (64kg),Dilbagh Singh (69kg),Vijender Singh (75kg),Dinesh Kumar (81kg),Manpreet Singh (91kg),Paramjit Samota (+91kg).

Asian Games:Amandeep Singh (49kg),Suranjoy Singh (52kg),Chhote Lal Yadav (56kg),Vikas Krishan (60kg),V Santhosh Kumar (64kg),Dilbagh Singh (69kg),Vijender Singh (75kg),Dinesh Kumar (81kg),Manpreet Singh (91kg),Paramjit Samota (+91kg).

Vijender slams selection procedure
Beijing Olympic bronze medalist Vijender Singh lashed out at the selection process and termed it as unfair in lower weight categories.”The trials were held in closed doors. We don’t know about the scoring but I am disappointed that boxers like Balwinder and Sunil have missed on the spots. They did well in the trials and what’s the use of bringing judges during the trials if we do not know about it’” Vijender told The Indian Express. The CWG team saw just one new name- that of ManojKumar in place of Vijender’s cousin Balwinder,who took part in Commonwealth Boxing Championship held in March this year. IBF’s general secretary P K Muralidharan Raja maintained that trials were held in a fair way and IBF took special care of scoring.” We had fair trials and different weightage was given to various criteria. I have talked with Vijender and told him that all went well. Balwinder lost in the trials and it was a fair thing,” said Raja.