Thai boxing: 370 players in fray at Akurdi, Pimpri-Chinchwad crowned champion
Pimpri-Chinchwad topped the Pune division level Thai boxing meet at Akurdi, with Ahilyanagar runners-up and Solapur third.
The Pune division level Thai boxing competition was held on Sunday (20th) at the auditorium of Bina Sports Club in Akurdi, where the Pimpri-Chinchwad city team maintained its dominance and put up the most impressive performance to claim the title. The Ahilyanagar team finished runner-up, while the Solapur team came third.
A total of 370 players from seven districts of the Pune division took part in the competition. Boys and girls competed separately in different age and weight categories. In closely fought bouts in the ring, players showed excellent technical skill, agility, spirit and fine sporting behaviour.
The competition was held under the official recognition of the Maharashtra Thai Boxing Association. It was jointly organised by Bina English Medium School and Bina Sports Club, with support from the Pimpri-Chinchwad Thai Boxing Association.
All the medal winning players who put up strong performances in the competition were honoured with medals and certificates by the dignitaries present. Players were also wished well for upcoming state and national level competitions. On the occasion of the prize distribution, the dignitaries said that sports like Thai boxing greatly nurture self confidence, discipline, courage and sporting spirit among youth, and that such competitions inspire a bright future for players.
At the inauguration of the competition, several personalities from the sporting world were present, including Bina School founder-president Azhar Khan, Shahaji Aatar, Pimpri-Chinchwad Alpsankhyak Rashtrawadi working president Yusuf Qureshi, Pimpri-Chinchwad Rashtrawadi president and Indian Thai Boxing Federation official P. Y. Aatar, Bina Sports Club's Akhmal Khan, and P. K. School sports head Rahul Kore.
The entire technical work of the competition was carried out under the supervision of Pune division Thai boxing president Priyanka Matti. National referees Nazim Shaikh, Arbaz Shaikh, Kiran Mane, Gaikwad Karbhari and Swapnil Warule took charge as chief referees. Ganesh Mandhare and Abhishek Shinde played key roles in the successful preparation of the competition, while the entire programme was compered by Raviraj Gadhve.
