New Delhi, December 04, 2008: Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh and 43 others were on Wednesday included in a 'Core Group' of Indian boxers to be given special training and international exposure for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

The Sports Ministry said in a statement that these boxers would be provided state of the art training and exposure both at the domestic and international levels to prepare them for a world class performance when Delhi hosts the 2010 Games.

"Under the Scheme for 'Preparation of Indian Teams for Commonwealth Games 2010', the Steering Committee has approved the names of 44 boxers, for their inclusion in the 'Core Group' of sports-persons.

In addition, names of seven Indian coaches have also been approved in consultations with Indian Boxing Federation (IBF)," the Ministry said.

Apart from Vijender, the middle weight pugilist who clinched a bronze in the Olympics, the other senior members of the group include Beijing quarter-finalists Akhil Kumar and Jitender Kumar.

Olympians Diwakar Prasad, Dinesh Kumar and A L Lakra have also been included.

Eighteen-year-old World Cadet champion Vipin Kumar, Youth World Championship gold medallist T Nanao Singh, Vijender's cousin Balwinder, who is a gold winner from the Pune Commonwealth Youth Games, are some of the young faces in the group.

The Steering Committee has directed the IBF to prepare, in consultation with the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the annual calendar of training and competitions of 305 days.

During the meeting, the Committee also approved NIS, Patiala, Army Institute for Sports, Pune, and SAI Centre, Shillaroo as centres for imparting training to the Core Group of sportspersons.

For providing infra-structural and equipment support, the Committee has asked the SAI to take necessary action to fulfill all requirements of IBF," the statement read.

Sports Minister M S Gill has also called for feedback from the stakeholders � including players � about the 'Core Group' sportspersons and coaches selected under the scheme and said the Ministry would look into the feedback seriously and take appropriate action.

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