Hyderabad: India`s ace pugilist Vijender Singh on Tuesday said that he was open to the idea of setting up a boxing academy in the Andhra Pradesh capital if the state government supports him.
The 2008 Beijing Games bronze medallist, who was here in connection with the 59th Senior National Men`s Boxing Championship, told reporters that he has fond memories of Hyderabad as he won a medal in the Afro-Asian Games held here in 2003.
Vijender felt that Andhra Pradesh and other southern states have good talent in boxing and pointed that establishing the necessary infrastructure for the sport would give a push to boxing in the city and the state.
The championship was inaugurated by Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan at a function at Lal Bhadur Stadium here.
Speaking on the occasion the governor suggested that all educational institutions should have a physical instructor and that sports persons are provided suitable employment for their comfortable living.
Meanwhile, state sports minister V Vasanth Kumar informed that the government has increased the budget for sports manifold and was also building infrastructure across the state to promote sports.
Andhra Pradesh Labour Minister D Nagender, who is president of Andhra Pradesh Amateur Boxing Association welcomed the gathering.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, October 30, 2012, 20:30