World Military Games: India to kick off its campaign with boxing

In the ongoing World Military Games in Wuhan, China, India's campaign to start off with boxing on Saturday. India will be participating in nine sports events in the competition. Last time around, at South Korea edition in 2015, India ended up winning six medals.

India's boxing contingent at the Military Games 

In the preliminary men's light welter category (60-64kg), India's Sandeep Kumar will face Uzbekistan's Rasulov Jakhongir. While in the preliminary Men's super heavy category (plus 91kg) category, Satish Kumar will lock horns with Brazil's Nascimento Cosme. In the men's fly category (49-52kg), Amit will face Brazil's, Andrade Douglas. In the men's light category (56-60kg), Aman Indora will take on Uzbekistan's Abdurasulov Shunkor. Harsh Lakhra will face China's Zhou di in the men's light heavy category (75-81kg).

On Friday, President of China Xi Jinping inaugurated the 7th CISM Military World Games. As many as 54 participants selected from three wings of the Indian armed forces will be taking part in the nine-day long event. The nine-game events are archery, boxing, diving, modern pentathlon, shooting, track and field, gymnastics, wrestling, and tennis. So far, India has taken part in three editions of the military games in 2007, 2011, and 2015. The country is hoping to increase its medal count in the current games.

101 nations participated in the 4th edition in India

In the year 2007, India had hosted the 4th edition of the games in Hyderabad with 101 nations participating in the event. Also known as Military Olympics, Military World Games is being hosted by China for the first time. The event will be held at 35 venues. 13 have been newly built, 17 have been reconstructed using sites formerly operated by the city and local universities, and five are temporary facilities.

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'Military Glory and Peace'

The main venue is China's Wuhan, a city equipped with rich water resources, with 166 large and small lakes dotting its territory. Hoping to promote the great lakes and rivers, all 35 venues of the games are allocated to be held in four zones, adjacent to local waters. The theme for the 7th Military World Games is 'Military Glory and Peace'. The International Military Sports Council (CISM) was founded in 1948. The first military world games were inaugurated in Rome in 1955, and since then, it has been held every four years by the CISM.

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(With agency inputs)