Delhi sign five pugilist

The Delhi franchise in the World Series of Boxing (WSB), which is owned by the Videocon Group, has signed five of the country’s top boxing stars, reports Saurabh Duggal.

The Delhi franchise in the World Series of Boxing (WSB), which is owned by the Videocon Group, has signed five of the country’s top boxing stars.

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Videocon has signed Vijender Singh, Akhil Kumar, Dinesh Kumar, Jitender Kumar and Jai Bhagwan, who will be fighting in three weight categories, and for the remaining categories, the franchise will sign foreign boxers from the WSB International Boxer Draft that will take place in London on June 28.

Delhi is one of the 12 cities that will be vying for top honours in the WSB, which gets underway in September. Competition will be held in five weight categories — bantamweight (54kg), lightweight (61kg), middleweight (73kg), light heavyweight (85kg), and heavyweight (+91kg).

Jitender will compete in bantamweight, Beijing Olympic Games quarterfinalist Akhil, who changed his weight category from 54kg to 57kg after the Olympic Games, has again changed his weight category and will be seen in action in 61kg along with Asian Championship silver medallist Jai Bhagwan.

Olympic and World Championship bronze medallist Vijender, who competes in 75kg, will have to compete in 85kg, as his weight category is not there in the WSB. Dinesh has also been picked for light heavyweight. “Jitender, Akhil, Dinesh and Jai Bhagwan have already signed and talks with Vijender are complete,” said a source close to the Indian Boxing Federation and Videocon.

“After picking boxers from the International Boxers Draft, Videocon will go in for another five to seven Indian boxers and the team strength will be of 15-17 boxers,” the source added.