Vikas, Solanki, Thapa: 5 Indian Boxers to Watch at Asian Games

Five-time World Champion MC Mary Kom decided to opt out of the Indian boxing squad for the 2018 Asian Games to focus on the World Championships, which will be held in November.

Instead of Mary, fellow Manipur star Sarjubala Devi will represent India in the women's 51 kilogram category at the Asiad.

Sarjubala Devi defeated Pinki Rani in the selection trial to take the final spot in the squad. Both the boxers had earned equal points and share of wins in the last two months and the trial was organised to finalise the last name in the squad.

Boxing Federation of India’s Statement

Among the men's team – Vikas Krishan (75kg) who has previously won a gold and bronze at the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games respectively, will spearhead the Indian challenge.

Reigning Commonwealth Games (CWG) champion Gaurav Solanki (52 Kg), who recently won gold at the Chemistry Cup will look to emulate his CWG run at the Asian Games.

Here’s a look at five Indian boxers to watch at the Asian Games 2018.

1. Vikas Krishan Yadav

Vikas Krishan Yadav, who crashed out in the quarter-finals of the Chemistry Cup, has an Asian Games gold and bronze medal under his belt. He won the gold medal in the lightweight category in 2010 and the bronze in middleweight category in 2014.

The 26-year-old, who won a gold medal in the Middleweight (75 kg) at the Commonwealth Games this year, will be certainly looking to clinch the gold medal in the middleweight category at the Asian Games.

2. Gaurav Solanki

Gaurav Solanki will be with full of confidence after winning a gold medal at the Chemistry Cup in the 52 kg category last month. The 21-year-old is going into the Asian Games after winning his first big medal for India at the Commonwealth Games this year.

Gaurav defeated Ireland's Brendan Irvine 4-1 in the flyweight category final at CWG 2018.

3. Amit Panghal

Amit Panghal, who lost to England's Galal Yafai, in the final of the light flyweight category at CWG 2018, took the bronze medal at the Chemistry Cup in the same category.

Panghal, who has an Asian Championships bronze under his belt, was disappointed about not winning the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.

I am disappointed with the result. I thought it was 50-50 bout.

Amit Panghal

The 22-year-old will surely be looking forward to snatch the gold medal at the Asian Games.

4. Shiva Thapa

Shiva Thapa has got a chance to resurrect his career after being left out of the Commonwealth Games, earlier this year. He lost two matches to Manish Kaushik in the trials.

But the 24-year-old fought back. He bagged the bronze medal at the Ulaanbaatar invitational tournament in June and then followed it up by beating Kaushik in the Asian Games trials.

The Youth Olympic Games silver medallist has excelled in junior competitions, but he would be certainly looking to make his mark in the senior competitions as well.

5. Sarjubala Devi

Sarjubala Devi beat CWG bronze medallist Pinki Jangra to book a spot in the Asian Games boxing squad. The 25-year-old has a World Championships silver medal to her name, which she won in 2014 in the light flyweight category.

Devi, who will be competing in the flyweight (51 kg) category, bowed out in the quarter-final stage at the Ulaanbaatar Cup in June.

(With inputs from IANS)

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