BANGKOK, APRIL 6: Bantamweight star Ng Dingko Singh, who clinched a berth for the Sydney Olympics by reaching the final of the Asian Zone Qualifying Boxing Tournament, here, is unlikely to figure in the summit showdown after suffering a left-hand injury.The 23-year-old Bangkok Asian Games champion, who landed India their fourth berth in the September Games by winning his semi-final on Wednesday, is nursing a swollen wrist due to a hairline crack and the coaches are against risking him against Chotipat Wongprates of Thailand on Friday.India still have the chance of claiming a fifth Olympic berth as flyweight H Srinivas Rao, who lost to Iranian Rahim Mohammad on points in the semifinal, will meet an Indonesian rival in a box-off but he is also nursing an injury.Rao will make the grade if he wins and will join Dingko Singh besides lightfly Suresh Singh, middleweight Jitender Kumar and lightheavy Gurcharan Singh who made it to Sydney after making it from the second qualifier at Taejeon City, South Korea in January.But the Indian camp is beset with injury worries in the final build up to the Olympics as Rao is also nursing a cut on his eyebrow suffered here while Jitender Kumar's training has been hit as he has also suffered a crack on the back of his palm. Rao's left eyebrow region is swollen and his participationin the box-off is subject to medical clearance. Lightwelter K Sanjit Singh, whose qualification hopes were dashed when he lost his semifinal bout, was also undermined by a hand injury suffered in the first round.He gave a lion-hearted display against Naurian of Iran despite being forced to punch only with his left hand before losing 4-7.Sanjit, who showed a big heart to progress till the last four stage, fought bravely after being administered a pain-killer injection before his semi-final bout and refused to retire as advised by his corner despite the pain shooting up after the first round.Despite the injury, he scored points with left jabs and hooks and the fact that the final scoreline read 4-7, Sanjeet showed he could have won if not for the injury handicap.The overall performance of the Indian team has been good in this prestigious championship and the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) has reasons to feel happy as four out of five boxers reached the medal round here.Sanjit Singh, Srinivas Rao and lightweight Narendra Rana reached the last four with only featherweight hopeful Ramanand making a first round exit.But the series of injuries which can undermine Indian preparations for the Olympics has come as a major worry for IABF. Rao's injury is understandable as cuts, bruises and sprain on the wrist are common in boxing, but what should worry the officials is the bone injuries.Except Gurcharan Singh and Suresh Singh, Jitender and Dingko have received hairline cracks on the back of their palms and the Sports Ministry as well as the Federation will have to organise prompt medical treatment if the Indian pugilists are to be in fine trim for Sydney.The qualifiers will lose valuable training time if they are not medically fit and action will have to be expedited to treat the injuries.Despite failing to qualify, Sanjit Singh also would need immediate treatment to ensure the country does not lose a talented boxer.
