When Indian boxers enter the ring for the men’s World Championships, which begin here on Monday, they will be immensely driven to improve the one bronze medal they won in the last event.
Although there are no Olympic spots available, the Worlds will give the wrestlers a solid workout before the Asian Games in September, which serve as a qualifying competition for the Olympics in Paris.
Men’s revised weight categories, which were lowered from 13 to 7, are 51 kg, 57 kg, 63.5 kg, 71 kg, 80 kg, 92 kg, and +92 kg.
In the absence of Amit Panghal, who won the nation’s first silver medal in 2019, and Akash Kumar, who won the only medal at the previous competition, India’s hopes will be primarily placed on six-time Asian Championship medalist Shiva Thapa (63.5kg).
Shiva made history last year when, with a silver, he became the first man wrestler to earn six medals in the Asian Championships.
Shiva has had success at the famous competition after taking home a bronze in the Worlds in 2015. He’ll be itching to alter the colour of his medal.
Mohammad Hussamuddin (57 kg), Ashish Chaudhary (80 kg), and Shiva make up the team’s seasoned core.
While Hussamuddin has won two medals from the Commonwealth Games, Ashish has won a silver medal from the Asian Championship and has also competed for his nation in the Olympics in Tokyo. He will participate in the competition for the second time and is eager to add another significant medal to his collection.
The 2021 World Youth champion Sachin Siwach (54 kg) and Harsh Choudhary (86 kg) are two more young athletes in the Indian team. It will be the first World Championship appearance for both fighters.
Govind Sahani (48 kg), who won the Strandja Memorial Silver Medal, would be eager to keep up his winning streak.
Other promising young fighters include Varinder Singh (60 kg), Akash Sangwan (67 kg), Nishant Dev (71 kg), and Sumit Kundu (75 kg). The foursome, competing in their second World Championships, will try to put their previous success to their advantage this time.
The boxers are joined by head coach CA Kuttapa, who is back.
The field will be far less than it was at the Women’s World Championships in March.
In defiance of the International Olympic Committee’s advice, the International Boxing Association, led by the Russian Umar Kremlev, permitted boxers from Russia and Belarus to compete under their own flag. As a result, nations like Britain, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Canada, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, and New Zealand are boycotting the competition.
However, more than 640 boxers from 104 nations are expected to compete in the tournament, with the winner taking home $ 200,000 in prize money.
The silver medalists will get a check for $100,000, while the two bronze medalists will receive checks for $50,000 apiece.
The seven reigning World Champions, Sofiane Oumiha of France, Tomoya Tsuboi and Sewonrets Okazawa of Japan, Loren Alfonso of Azerbaijan, Saken Bibossinov of Kazakhstan, Yoenlis Hernandez Martinez, and Julio La Cruz of Cuba, will compete for the title.
Squad:
Govind Sahani (48kg), Deepak Bhoria (51kg), Sachin Siwach (54kg), Mohammad Hussamuddin (57kg), Varinder Singh (60kg), Shiva Thapa (63.5kg), Akash Sangwan (67kg), Nishant Dev (71kg), Sumit Kundu (75kg), Ashish Chaudhary (80kg), Harsh Choudhary (86kg), Naveen Kumar (92kg) and Narender Berwal (92+kg).