Vijender Singh Top Seed At World Championship

[jayanthi mandhalapu]

Vijender Singh of India received the top billing in the middle weight category in the World Boxing Championships, which will be commencing from tomorrow in Milan, Italy. Three other Indians were also placed in the top ten at the world championships. The Olympic bronze medallist Vijender, who received the Khel Ratna last week, got a bye in the first round. The 23 year old will challenge the Kazakh boxer in the second round.

Indian coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu said,"Vijender was named top seed at the draw ceremony today. It is amazing that Cuban boxer Emilio Correa to whom Vijender lost in the Olympic semi-finals has been seeded fifth."

The other Indians in the championship include, Beijing Olympics quarter-finalist Akhil Kumar, who will make his featherweight debut in Milan. He has   been billed seventh and will face an opponent from the Dominican Republic.

The silver medallist in 48 kg category in Asian Championship T Nanao Singh has been seeded fourth. He will open his match against Azerbaijan.

The Olympian Dinesh Kumar in 81 kg category was seeded fourth and will challenge Czech boxer in the first round.

Sandhu said,"It's a very tough draw. Because the size of the field was so huge, we haven't got byes. But I am keeping my fingers crossed for a good performance."