Dingko to face Ukranian rival on Thursday

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Sydney: After four days of rest due to a bye, 21-year-old Navyman Dingko Singh is raring to don the gloves against Ukrainian Danylchenko Sergie in the 52-kg category of the Olympic boxing competitions at the Exhibition Hall on Thursday.

Victories by Jitender Kumar and Gurcharan Singh in the ring comes as an inspiration for the Manipuri lad, who became a national figure after winning the gold in the Bangkok Asian Games in 1998.

Though there is speculation about the Manipuri lad's fitness, as he could be suffering pain in his right fist, there is no doubt about his courage and capacity to rise to the occasion. ''I will show my game and let's see what happens,'' Dingko said.

Former national coach O P Bhardwaj had said in New Delhi that Dingko could do well against the Ukrainian, who is new to the international arena. ''I think Dingko should find it easy to get into the semi-finals,'' the former coach had predicted.

Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) president Ashok Kumar Mattoo, who is also the chef de mission of the Indian contingent said the boxer was fully fit and ready to take on the rivals.

UNI