NEW DELHI, April 13: Indian Army boxers brought laurels to the country, returning with a haul of eight medals, including three gold, at the recently-concluded Asian Boxing Championships in Mongolia, officials said on Monday.
Vishwanath Suresh (gold), Sachin Siwach (silver), Akash (bronze), Lokesh (bronze) and Narender Berwal (bronze) were among the medal winners in the men’s section.
In the women’s competition, Preeti Pawar (gold), Jaismine Lamboria (silver) and Arundhati Chaudhary (gold) also finished on the podium.
“Indian Army boxers trained at the Army Sports Institute under the Indian Army’s Mission Olympics programme delivered an outstanding performance at the Asian Boxing Championship, winning a total of eight medals including three gold, two silver and three bronze medals,” the Army official said.
The Army Sports Institute is widely described as a premier sports training establishment under the Army’s Mission Olympics programme, which was launched to identify and train promising sportspersons for top international competition.“Among the men, Vishwanath won a gold in the 50kg category, Sachin secured a silver in the 60kg category, while Akash won a bronze in the 75-kg category, while Lokesh claimed a bronze in the 85-kg category and Narender added a bronze in the +90-kg category,” the official said.
“Preeti won a gold in the 54-kg category, Jasmine secured a silver in the 57-kg category and Arundhati clinched a gold in the 70-kg category,” the Army official said.
The team’s medal haul reflects the high standards of training, discipline and competitive excellence fostered by the Indian Army through its professional sporting ecosystem, the official added.
TWO INDIGENOUS SPORTS TO MAKE ENTRY
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday said the 2030 Commonwealth Games is likely to feature two indigenous Indian sports in an elaborate event programme that will definitely have hockey and cricket among others.
The Commonwealth Sport delegation, led by its President Donald Rukare, CEO Katie Sadleir, Director of Games and Assurance Darren Hall, Director of Sport Ann-Louise Morgan, and major events expert Neil Carney, was in India last week to assess preparations in host city Ahmedabad.
The delegation met Mandaviya on Friday and discussed time-lines to ensure “efficient delivery” and legacy planning for optimum utilisation of infrastructure after the Games.
“Kabaddi, Mallakhamb, Kho-Kho, and Yoga are under consideration from among our indigenous sports. Two of them should make the cut,” Mandaviya told reporters during an interaction here. (PTI)
