Dingko gets a bye, others face tough rivals

Sydney: Asian Games Champion N Dingko Singh has got a respite of five days after he drew a bye, while the three other Indian pugilists in the fray will fight tough rivals as per the draw announced here on Thursday.

Dingko Singh, who was earlier scheduled to fight in the 52-kg category on September 17, would now take on Ukraine's Danylchenko Sergie on september 21.

In 48-kg (light fly) category, S Suresh Singh faces tough Korean rival Kim Ki Suk on September 17. On September 18, in the 75-kg (middle weight) category, Jitender Kumar fights Canada's Orr Donald Grant, while Gurcharan Singh takes on another tough Korean Choi Ki Soo in the over 81-kg (light heavy) category on September 20.

Describing the draw as tough, Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) president Ashok Kumar Mattoo said the Koreans are a major force in the game in Asia and two of them have been pitted against Indians.

He however, added that Gurcharan Singh had defeated Cho Ki Soo earlier and hoped that he would repeat that feat here too. Mattoo said Dingko's rival D Sergie is an unknown entity. ''Not much has been heard about him. So it will be difficult to say any thing at this stage about him.''

UNI