Delhi's toxic air has left some of the women boxers, gathered in the city for the AIBA World Championship, gasping for breath but Indian people's renowned hospitality is providing some comfort.
World championship trials would be held from March 7 to 9, followed by the Asiad trials from March 10 to 13.
World Champion boxer Nikhat Zareen said she has adopted a combative approach where "whatever happens I have to fight and give my best."
A summary of Indian athletes' showing atthe Olympic Games in Tokyo on Sunday.
Lovlina Borgohain will be in pursuit of history when she takes on reigning World champion Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey in the Olympics boxing 67 kg semi-finals, in Tokyo, on Wednesday.
'The girls will do well, I hope we get one or two medals. It could be a silver or may be even a gold.'
M C Mary Kom managed to surpass even herself, obliterating everyone and everything else along the way in a tumultuous year for the sport.
MS Dhoni or Sachin A Billion Dreams? Dangal or Mary Kom?
Distraught after losing her controversial semifinal bout, Indian boxer L Sarita Devi on Tuesday stunned officials and spectators by refusing to accept the bronze medal, which is now in the custody of organisers.
Virat Kohli? M C Mary Kom? Neeraj Chopra?
Medals galore at most tournaments they gloved up for and an administrative recovery that heldout promise of a better future -- there were loads to celebrate in Indian boxing this year, during which quite a few punched above their weight.
Tokyo's grand opening on Friday will have none of that splendour or grandiosity.
Both the boxers stuck to a defensive approach but Rani was the more accurate of the two.
Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain will look to find their footing in new weight categories with the 2024 Paris Olympic Games approaching.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Thursday.
Three Indian pugilists, including Nikhat Zareen, advanced to the semi-finals in their respective events after thrilling victories while Lovlina Borgohain bowed out in the quarter-finals in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on Wednesday.
The participation of Indian athletes in Friday's Tokyo Olympic Games opening ceremony will be kept to a 'bare minimum' in view of the COVID-19 threat, while only six officials from the contingent will be allowed to take part in the event.
Birthday wishes poured in for the Prime Minister.
Anahat Singh seals berth for World Junior Squash C'ship after topping selection trials
Nitu (48kg) and Jasmine (60kg) were the others boxers who sealed spots for the quadrennial event, in Birmingham from July 28 to August 8.
Shiva Thapa (60kg) won a place in India's boxing team for the Asian Games after winning in the trials, while Sarjubala Devi clinched the 51kg spot in the women's squad -- a category that was thrown open after M C Mary Kom pulled out of the equation due to a shoulder problem.
Determined to keep the Olympic dream alive despite the long-standing administrative mess, a spirited Indian boxing team, featuring the likes of M C Mary Kom and Shiva Thapa, will take off on Monday night for the Asian Qualifiers in Qian'an City, China. Ten men and three women form the 13-strong team which will be in action from March 25. In the men's competition, only the top three boxers in each weight category will make the Olympic cut with the third spot decided via a box-off between the two bronze-medallists. In the women's draw, only the gold and silver medal winners will qualify for Rio de Janeiro. In the absence of a recognised federation, the Indians will once again compete under the flag of the International Boxing Association (AIBA). "It is going to be a very tough tournament because not many from the Asian region qualified during last year's World Championships. I am expecting around 30 countries and more than 250 boxers to be there at this event," national coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu told PTI ahead of the team's departure.
India's Lovlina Borgohain reflects on her victory over former World champion Nien-Chin Chen in the Olympics 69kg bout on Friday.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee will ring the customary Eden Bell
Indian boxing's biggest names are demanding an all systems reboot to halt the sport's decline after a medal-less Olympic campaign in Rio and their roadmap goes beyond having the much-delayed national federation.
'He asked us to spread awareness on social distancing and hygiene. He spoke about how we need Virat's (Kohli) fighting spirit to win this battle'
A tough road awaits veteran L Sarita Devi and rookie Manisha Moun as they open India's campaign at the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships, in New Delhi, on Friday.
The Indian athletes seemed unruffled by the syringe controversy that has cast a shadow on their Commonwealth Games build-up as they enthusiastically took part in the flag-hoisting ceremony at the athletes village, on Monday.
'Vijender Singh is the talent that India has in professional boxing and I would want to fight him in India soon.'
Former world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali died on Friday, aged 74. Following are some of the immediate reactions to the news:
'Our boxers are mature and strong enough to withstand these kinds of shocks.'
Saina Nehwal's preparation for the 2012 London Games received a shot in the arm on Saturday with the ace shuttler signing a contract with Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ).
PV Sindhu, Depika Padukone ensured Indian representation on the global front.
In the rematch of last year's quarter-finals, Nitu and Balkibekova went all guns blazing in the first round. However, the Kazakh was dominant and took the round 2-3.
Indian boxer Vikas Krishan (69kg) was out-punched 0-5 and left with a bloodied eye by local favourite Sewonrets Quincy Mensah Okazawa as he bowed out of the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday.
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India's schedule on the ninth day of the competitions at the Asian Games in Incheon on Sunday.
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Thursday
Dingko Singh is battling liver cancer.
The debutant duo of Gaurav Solanki (52kg) and Manish Kaushik (60kg) advanced to the quarterfinals, continuing Indian boxers' fine preliminary run at the Commonwealth Games, in Gold Coast, on Monday.
India bagged as many as 21 medals at the Spanish Para Badminton International in Cartagena, Spain.
