Top pugilists to vie for honours in SRM-Federation Cup

Chennai, June 30 (UNI) Top pugilists of the country, including present and former internationals, will be in action in the SRM-Federation Cup Boxing Championship to be held here from July nine to 13.

Talking to reporters here last night, SRM University Vice- Chancellor P Sathyanarayana and Tamil Nadu State Amateur Boxing Association Secretary A K Karunakaran said for the first time both the men's and women's event would be held together in a Federation Cup.

The tournament offers the highest ever prize money of Rs two lakh and would be held in a rural ambience. The bouts would be held at the two imported rings set up at the University's campus in suburban Kattankulathur.

The tournament assumes significance as the performance of the boxers would be taken into account while picking the Indian team for the World Men's Championship to be held in October at Chicago US.

Top eight teams in both the sections, including favourite Services, its arch-rival Railways, Haryana, Delhi, Jharkhand, All India Police, Tamil Nadu and Chandigarh in the men's and Haryana, Railways, Kerala, Manipur, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Delhi in the women's would slug it out for the overall title.

World renowed boxers like K C Lekha of Kerala and Saritha Devi of Manipur in the women's and top ten pugilists like Jitendar, Jai Bhagwan, Lakhra, Bijendar and Amandeep Singh in the men's would be the star attraction of the tournament.

The semifinals and finals of the tournament would be telecast live by Doordarshan.

UNI