Indian boxers are certainly packing a punch, if the latest world rankings released by the international boxing federation (AIBA) are any indication.
With the World Championships in Milan barely 10 days away, Indian boxing got a huge boost when four pugilists — Vijender Kumar (2nd), Nanao Singh (5th), Dinesh Kumar (6th) and Akhil Kumar (9th) — were placed among the top-10 in world rankings, released by AIBA on Thursday.
Beijing Olympic bronze-medallist Vijender — who has become the highest ever ranked Indian in the world surpassing Raj Kumar Sangwan (1994, 4th rank) with 1700 points in the 75kg category — said: “After the Olympics, boxing scenario in the country has changed drastically and the high rankings are an indication of the growing clout of Indian boxers. With four of our boxers getting places in the world top-10, it’s definitely going to enhance our reputation.”
“My ranking will help me in the World Championships and also give me an added advantage in selection for next year’s World Series,” he added.
Commenting on the rankings GS Sandhu said: “It’s a good sign...six of our boxers are in the world’s top-20 and all of them are part of the nine-member contingent for the World Championships. It will boost the moral of our contingent.”