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Vijender, Akhil team-up for World C’ships

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New Delhi: Olympic Games bronze medallist Vijender Singh and veteran pugilist Akhil Kumar will lead India’s challenge in the World Championships in Azerbaijan on September 22 after the duo were expectedly selected in the 10-member national boxing team announced today.

The top ten boxers at the AIBA World Championship in each weight category will qualify for London Olympics 2012 except Heavy and Super Heavy where only six will qualify.

The second and final Olympic Qualification Tournament for Asia will be held in Kazakhstan in March 2012.

National youth champion Devendro Singh has been the surprise pick in the team. He beat Asian Championship silver medallist Amandeep Singh and former youth World Champion Nanao Singh to stake a claim for the light fly weight.

“I am really very surprised. This will be the biggest competition of my career and I am looking forward to doing well in it,” Devendro said after the team’s announcement.

Meanwhile, national coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu said it is a strong team. “This team is a mix of youth and experience and hopefully it would do well,” he said.

In the bantamweight 56kg division, 2006 Commonwealth Games gold-medallist Akhil managed to upstage his younger rivals such as Shiva Thapa, his own prodigy Jitender Kumar and Chhote Lal Yadav to get the selectors’ nod. (UNI)

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