Strong field in lightest weight

Coach Sandhu says competition between Nanao,Amandeep and Devendro is good for India

With several equally talented boxers in the 49-kg light flyweight category,selections to the national squad have always appeared to part of a game of musical chairs. While once the spotlight would be on Nanao Singh of Services or Amandeep Singh of Railways,attention has now shifted to Devendro Singh. The youngster stole the show in the Olympic qualifiers trial to edge past the duo. But with Devendro not taking part at the Nationals,this year,both Amandeep,who won the title in 2009 and Nanao,who was victorious last year are looking to the games to get back in the reckoning.

8220;It8217;s been a tough competition in the 49 Kg for most of us. Earlier 2007 World Cadet Champion Sunil Kumar also used to play in the 49 Kg category and it was even tougher. At one championship,I would win,then Sunil would win at other and Nanao would also win,8221; says Amandeep who scored a 10-4 win over Lal Chand Shaw of West Bengal to move into the quarters. Amandeep however says the competition is a good thing. 8220;Whatever happened made us work hard. At the national camp,all of us train hard and there is rivalry only at the ring. Off the ring,we roam together,cook food together and spar together. Whenever we face any problem in training,we discuss with each other,8221; said the CWG bronze medallist Amandeep Singh.

That the three boxers brought out the best in each other is seconded by Nanao Singh. The 2008 world youth champion suffered a career threatening wrist injury in 2009 after a successfull year which saw him winning a silver medal in Asian championship in Zuhai,China apart from medals in Czech Grand Prix and Cuba training competition. 8220;After I suffered a wrist injury,I was out for an year. These guys would often keep me updated about the camp and encouraged me to make a comeback,8221; shares Nanao,who won the won the National title on his return last year. Having made his way into the quarterfinal with a 17-5 win over Sumit Bansi of Goa,Nanao Singh was already looking forward to getting back to the national camp and meeting Devendro. 8220;I know Devendro since last nine years and he is a very good boxer. Amandeep too is a swift boxer and has the advantage of his height in this weight category. But in international competitions only one of us can take part. It8217;s little unfortunate but that8217;s boxing. Things like nationals help us to gauge our strength and weak areas,8221; he says.

Glad to be facing this problem of plenty is national coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu. 8220;The biggest strenth for the three boxer is their bonding,8221; he says. And undoubtedly ,the tough competition is good for Indian boxing. 8220;It8217;s a good thing to have such talents. There was a time when last year I was really confused. Amandeep would beat Nanao and would later loose to Sunil. And Sunil would loose to Nanao in the trials. And then Devendro came. Now what can a coach do in this scenario. But it8217;s good thing,8221; shared Sandhu.