India's women boxers are prepping tough for next year's Commonwealth Games. Since Stephane Cottalorda's hasty decision to step down from the coach’s position, the national federation's president said they are now eager to appoint a foreign coach immediately.
"There will be a foreign coach for women boxers very soon, actually before the Commonwealth Games. We have shortlisted a few names already," Boxing Federation of India president Ajay Singh said at a press conference, Firstpost reported.
The women boxers have made the country proud with their numerous medal haul, including a gold, a silver and five bronze at the just-concluded Asian Championships in Vietnam.
The French coach resigned in September. However, that did not have any effect on the boxers' performance though there was a great need for proper guidance. The boxers showed incredible talent at the national camp despite the disagreement between Cottalorda and federation. He alleged that there was a delay in payment of salary and non-fulfillment of some other commitments made to him.
“I think I have been patient enough, it’s been a week since I returned to France. None of you would take the risk of crossing the earth with his family by not having any guarantee on his future. None of you would agree to work without wage guarantee and/or with delays,” Cottalorda wrote earlier in his resignation, a copy of which is with PTI
Currently, the boxers' training is being conducted by Sweden's Santiago Nieva, the coach for senior men. He is also training the women as a high-performance director.
"We are planning on holding an Indian Open next year, followed by a league in the middle of the year," Singh said about the future plans lined up for Indian boxers in the next few months.
Also read: Mary Kom Plans Comeback At Asian Boxing Championships In Nov
Indian Open would be a pro-style league, which was originally planned for the end of this year.
It is a great future ahead for women boxers in India as the country will also be hosting its first world championship since the 2006 senior women's marquee event.
"This continues our endeavour to ensure that boxing continues to grow in the country," he said.
Also Read: Not ready to hang up her gloves: Remembering Mary Kom’s finest Sporting Moments
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