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Srinivas Rao fails to qualify for Olympics

The 29th King's Cup boxing tournament came to a close in the City of Angels on Friday, with India winning two medals and Dingko Singh booking a bantamweight berth in the Sydney Olympics.

The team however will return to India with mixed feelings.

''When we came, we had expected one qualification, maybe two. But the way the boys performed got our hopes up for a third qualifier. Now we are going back with one. We are very happy that Dingko has made it,'' said Coach G S Sandhu, just before the team returned home.

The day began with H Srinivas Rao up against Hermensen Ballo of Indonesia in a fight-off for third place. This was the last chance for Rao, who was carrying a cut on the eyebrow from the last bout, to qualify.

Rao's approach in the flyweight contest was tentative as he sought to avoid further injury. The Indonesian capitalised on his reluctance to go all out in the first two rounds. However, a rejuvenated Rao entered the ring in the third round and made each of his punches count. The final round also belonged to the Indian, but the final scores did not reflect the close encounter.

Rao lost the bout 16-3 and the disappointment was evident.

''I boxed well today and how am I supposed to go back with a score like this?'' said Rao after the bout.

Coach Fernandez was also sceptical about the system. "Srini won the bout," he said.

"But even if the judges feel that he lost; there is no way it could have been by such a wide margin. This is an insult to the boy who has fought so well even with an injury."

In the second bout of the day, Dingko Singh was scheduled to meet Chotipat Wongprates of Thailand in the bantamweight final, but the Indian pulled out of the contest due to injury.

"We took him to the doctor this morning and the X-ray revealed a minor stress injury on his hand. It is something that will heal, but we have decided to rest him," said the Indian coach.

Dingko did not take the injury too seriously.

''I could have fought if I had to, but there is no point in aggravating a hurt when I have already qualified,'' he said.

With the qualifying tournament now behind them, the coaches now have five months to train the team for the Olympics.

''We have worked out a tight training schedule for all our boys. We will be going to Algeria next month with a few more,'' said coach Sandhu.

Speaking of Dingko's chances in the Oympics, especially in light of his injury, coach Fernandez said: ''This injury to Dingko's hand is minor and should heal in about 21 days. If he listens to the advice given to him and trains diligently over the next five months, his chances of winning a medal are good.''

India's squad for the Olympics now reads: Gurcharan Singh (81 kg), Kumar Jitender (75 kg), Suresh Singh (48 kg) and Dingko Singh (54 kg).

UNI