New Delhi: Five-time world champion M.C. Mary Kom and three-time Asian medallist Shiva Thapa will headline the inaugural India Open tournament, where the country’s pugilists for the Commonwealth Games trials would be finalised.
The $100,000 event will begin here on Sunday and is expected to feature boxers from several countries, including Cuba, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Russia, at the Thyagaraj Stadium, the Boxing Federation of India said on Tuesday.
The host country will field four men’s teams — A, B, C and D — in the tournament.
Team A will have world championships bronze medal winning duo of Shiva (56kg) and Vikas Krishan (75kg) among others including world youth bronze medallist Naman Tanwar.
Team B comprises Commonwealth Games silver medallist Mandeep Jangra (75kg), Asian silver-medallist Sumit Sangwan (91kg), and world youth champion Sachin Siwach (49kg).
Teams C and D feature boxers who have done well in the domestic circuit.
L. Devendro Singh (52kg) is not part of any of the teams but will compete in the tournament.
The 44-strong women’s line-up has five teams with Team E headlined by Mary Kom.
