Despite the fine performance of his wards at a recent event in Cyprus, India’s chief boxing coach GS Sandhu thinks they can do even better.
Indian boxers won an unprecedented 10 medals to win the 2013 Invitational FXTM International Limassol Boxing Cup in Limassol, Cyprus.
Sandhu felt India’s performance is encouraging and should motivate all the boxers. However, there is room for improvement, according to the coach.
“The boys did well to beat boxers from Algeria, Germany, Spain. This is the first time we have won a tournament in Europe. But, at the end of the day, this is only a mid-level competition, and they can improve a great deal. We have to work on technique as well as tactics. The speed and power in the punches can get better. Physical fitness is another area where I see scope for improvement.”
The new rules in boxing, wherein the headgear is going to be scrapped, were not implemented in Cyprus. It will only be banned in tournaments from June. So, it remains to be seen how Indian boxers adjust to life without headgear.
Though the rule is the same for everyone, the Indian coach refused to get drawn into the debate on how it will affect the Indians. “I can’t comment on that till the first tournament without headgear is played,” said the veteran coach.
Sandhu, who received the prestigious Dronacharya award in 1998, has been the coach of the Indian team since 1993.
Mandeep Jangra, who thrashed Victor Vega Blanco of Spain to win the welterweight title (69 kg), is thrilled to win a gold medal.
“This is my first international medal and I’m pretty happy about it. But this is only a small step, I still have a long way to go,” said the young boxer, who was spotted by Commonwealth Gold medallist Akhil Kumar.
Rajesh Bhandari, the General Secretary of the Indian Boxing Federation, bemoans the lack of sponsorship.
“It was a great performance by them (boxers), but the problem with boxing in India is that we lack proper sponsorship”.