Kathmandu, August 1 :

Boxing is one of the very few disciplines that has been consistent in bringing international success for the country. Boxing was included in the regional tournament since its inception in 1983 in Kathmandu.

Boxing gave two gold out of four that Nepal won in the first SAF Games held at the home soil. Since then Boxing has never been medal-less in the tournament coming to the 10th SAG. In all, Boxing have given Nepal six gold, 26 silver and 48 bronze medals.

Nepal’s poor run in boxing came in the seventh SAF Games (1995, Madras) when the boxers failed to reach the final.

“We have worked hard,” said coach Om Maskey, who had been training the boxers for the last 10 months. “I hope that our hard work pays off,” Maskey said.

However, like may of the other Nepali sports, boxing has been on the decline considering its international participation after the last SAF Games. “Our boxers have confidence in them but they lack international exposure which could be fatal in the medal pursuit,” Maskey said.

Nepal is pinning its hopes with the ninth SAF Games silver medallists Bikash Pariyar and Bishnu Prashad Rijal as well as bronze medallists Surya Rana Magar and Dipendra Maharjan. Of the nine players, Sushil Ghimire is the another boxer who had participated in the last SAF Games in Islamabad.

“Anything can happen in boxing as one single blow can knock the tough of the opponents out,” said Maskey. Rating India as the best in the boxing, Maskey claimed that Nepal could reach the final in at least three categories. “We can win more medals than expected if the draw favoured us and put India along with host Sri Lanka and Pakistan in another group,” he said.

“Although, the standard of Sri Lanka and Pakistan is almost the same with ours, the two nations will have the upper hands for one being the host country and the other considered as the strong lobbying nation,” he said.

The boxing squad is scheduled to leave for Hong Kong on Wednesday for the final preparation. “Spiring is our weakness and we hope to improve it during the two-week training in Hong Kong,” said Maskey.

Meanwhile, Nepal Boxing Association (NBA) organised a farewell ceremony today for the 11-member boxing team. Adidas Nepal presented the nine boxers and two coaches with track suits and shoes. NBA president Ravi Raj Thapa and Nepal Olympic Committee general secretary Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan wished the team all the best.

Squad: Surya Rana Magar (48kg), Anil Prashad Dahal (51kg), Mahesh Rijal (54kg), Purna Bahadur Lama (57kg), Dipendra Maharjan (60kg), Sushil Ghimire (64kg), Anil Ghimire (69kg), Bikash Pariyar (75kg), Bishnu Prashad Rijal (81kg), Prachanda Sharma (chief coach), Om Maskey (assistant chief coach).