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A sixteen member Indian team left for Turkey, in the wee hours of 21st April, 2011 to participate in the upcoming historic 1st AIBA Women’s Youth and Junior World Championships in Antalya. The event will be the first of its kind and will feature altogether 264 boxers from 45 nations. 113 athletes from 28 countries will battle for the world title in the Junior Championships, while 151 boxers from 17 nations will be vying for glory at the Youth Championships.
Women’s boxing in India has seen a rapid surge over the past decade and the country now boasts of a strong bank of women pugilists in every age group. Young Indian women athletes will now get the opportunity to tread on the lines of their male counter parts and perform at the international arena. S Sarjubala Devi a gold medallist at the Youth Women National Boxing Championships last year is leading the Indian challenge at the Youth World Championships along with Minu Basumatary, a silver medallist at the 2010 Senior Women National Boxing Championships. Spearheading the attack at the junior championships would be unbeaten light flyweight Lalenkawli and Punjab’s talented Neeraj Bala, who was awarded the best boxer trophy at the Indian Junior National Championships. The Competition to be held from April 21 to May 1, 2011 will witness emerging boxing talents from all over the world battle it out to be crowned the first world champions in the women’s youth and junior division.
In addition to host nation Turkey, Russia and Kazakhstan are competing with full 13-member teams at the Junior World Championships, while Ukraine with eleven, India eight and Ireland seven athletes. In the Youth Tournament Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan have again fielded a full team whereas India and Poland have send eight boxers, Germany and Romania will be competing with seven athletes while Hungary, Democratic Republic of Congo and Ireland with six youth competitors. Traditionally strong boxing nations like China and England will be fighting for medals only in the youth tournament. The event will also see some nations which are newcomers to women’s boxing such as Afghanistan, Benin, Bosnia & Herzegovina etc.
With some big names in the competition the Indian delegate is likely to face a strong challenge. The Russian squad contains a high number of medal contenders. To name a few, 17-year-old Anastasiya Belyakova, who competed at the 6th AIBA Women’s World Championships in Bridgetown, and made it to the quarter-finals in the lightweight class, 2010 European Women’s Youth Champion Yaroslava Yakushina(64kg) and reigning European Junior Champion Dagestan-based Saida Gamidova(+80kg). China’s 17-year-old Zhang Yibo will certainly be eying the yellow metal in the flyweight division after taking silver at the National Championships last year. The experience of Kazakhstan’s National reigning champion Nazym Kyzaybay will play major role in deciding the medal winners in the light flyweight division. Ukraine’s junior squad is also strong, led by experienced Viktoriya Virt (flyweight). The best local hope will be European Junior Championships gold medallist and Turkish National Champion Suheda Emre (light heavyweight).
In spite of a tough competition, Chief Coach of the youth team, D Chandralal, is confident of a good showing. “Our training has been really good; we have worked very hard to perfect our technique and will perform very well, I am hopeful of at least five medals, of which two should be gold”, he added.
I V Rao, coach-in-charge of the junior women was is also hopeful of a good performance and believes this tournament will provide a great opportunity for these young women athletes to make it big at the international arena. He stated, “With the talent that we have and the efforts that we have put in, I am positive of a good result, but a lot depends on the draw”.
The event will also serve as the testing ground for the new AIBA scoring system, which will make its official debut at Turkey. As per the new scoring structure points will be awarded after taking the average of the three Judges scores which are the closest together instead of the accepted points within one second time frame.
The 16 member team for both the events is listed below.
| Youth Women’s World Championship | ||
| 48 KG | S Sarjubala Devi | MAN |
| 51 KG | Sanasri Brahma | ASM |
| 54 KG | Pwilao Basumatary | ASM |
| 57 KG | Anjali Machahari | ASM |
| 60 KG | Poonam Chahal | HAR |
| 64 KG | Minu Basumatary | ASM |
| 69 KG | Heena Tokas | DEL |
| 75 KG | Alary Bord | ASM |
| Junior Women’s World Championship | ||
| 46 KG | Lalenkawli | MIZ |
| 48 KG | H Chanchan Devi | MAN |
| 50 KG | Nikhat Zareen | AP |
| 52 KG | Lalfakzuali | MIZ |
| 54 KG | Pinki Kachari | ASM |
| 57 KG | Neeraj Bala | PUN |
| 60 KG | S Marathamma | AP |
| 63 KG | Laxmi Wagh | MAH |
Warm RegardsBrig PK Muralidharan Raja, SM, VSMSecretary GeneralIndian Boxing Federation
