Top pugilists for Super Cup

Fisticuff fans of Mumbai would have the rare chance to witness the cream of Indian boxing in the fourth Super Cup Inter-Zonal National Boxing Championships next week.

The January 13-17 event, promoted by the Maharashtra Boxing Association, would see the Indian squad members for the forthcoming Dhaka SAF Games taking part in the competition to be held at the suburban Andheri Sports Complex and the SPG in central Mumbai.

The prime attraction would be Suranjoy Singh, the 22-year-old Manipuri pugilist, who was declared the best boxer in the President's Cup Inter-Continental event held at Baku, Azerbaijan in December last year.

The Navy boxer, who would lead the country's challenge in the SAF Games beginning January 29, would be one of the 176 boxers representing 16 states and units in the championship, MBA Secretary-General and AIBA Youth Commission secretary Jay Kowli said.

However, missing from the fray would be two star boxers - Beijing Olympic bronze medalist Vijender Singh and quarter-finalist Akhil Kumar - who are recuperating from injuries and opted for rest keeping in mind the March 10-18 Commonwealth Championships in Delhi, he said.

"But both Vijender and Akhil would be present for the finals," he added.