Kuttappa optimistic of his wards getting three to four Olympic quota places at the Asian Games Premium

Encouraged by the Indian male boxers’ best-ever showing of three bronze medals in the recent World boxing championships in Tashkent, head coach C.A. Kuttappa is optimistic that his boys will earn three to four Olympic quota places at the Hangzhou Asian Games in September.

Encouraged by the Indian male boxers’ best-ever showing of three bronze medals in the recent World boxing championships in Tashkent, head coach C.A. Kuttappa is optimistic that his boys will earn three to four Olympic quota places at the Hangzhou Asian Games in September.

Kuttappa feels the newly-introduced selection policy based on an assessment and evaluation process helped the coaches pick the best side for the Tashkent event and will again enable them to select the most deserving boxers for Hangzhou.

The finalists in each of the seven weight categories (51kg, 57kg, 63.5kg, 71kg, 80kg, 92 kg, and +92kg) at the Asian Games will qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“Technically and tactically we are number one, but we were not tough. But now we are giving tough fights. We are beating boxers from top countries like Kazakhstan and Cuba. Now the system is much better. After seeing our boxers’ performance at the World championships, I think we will have three to four boxers who will qualify for the Olympics from the Asian Games,” said Kuttappa.

Elaborating on the assessment system for the selection of boxers, which was prescribed by high-performance director Bernard Dunne and backed by foreign coach Dmitry Dmitruk, Kuttappa said, “You have to get out of your comfort zone. If assessment is happening, it is not only (about how someone is doing) technically and tactically during sparring, but also (it’s about) strength and conditioning, weight management, and health-management. We are taking them forward.

“Every day it is like a competition. From the time training starts till the end, it is a competition. You should do well and improve every day. You cannot be doing the same thing every day…if weight training has been given to you, then you have to do it. It’s not like you’ll do something else. You have to give 101%.

“I have been working with Shiva (Thapa) since 2011, but for the first time I saw him getting out of his comfort zone. I have never seen him working so hard. He won 3-2 but lost 4-3 following the bout review. You have to go forward and show that I am the best. That thinking should come from within.”