Chefs to take care of their taste buds and travelling days in advance to ensure better acclimatisation — the Indian boxers' stupendous Asian Championship medal haul has prompted the national federation to think of some fresh ways to aid their Olympic preparations.
The Indian boxers logged in their best performance at the tournament, fetching 13 medals including two Gold, four Silver and seven Bronze.
The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) is expectedly buoyed by the show and its President Ajay Singh said the target now is to repeat some of it at the Tokyo Games next year. The qualifying process for that will get underway at the world championships in September.
"We will do our best at BFI to make sure you guys are really well prepared for the Olympics. We will leave no stone unturned. We will provide everything starting from guidance, coaches, nutrition to make sure you are at your best in Tokyo," Singh said at an event to felicitate the medal winners.
Food has been an issue for Indian athletes travelling abroad besides the struggle to acclimatise with the change in temperatures.
"Acclimatisation is always an issue. So all the boxers who will go for the Olympics, will travel 10 days ahead of schedule," he said.
"If there is a problem with the food you guys get, like in this Asian Championship, we are happy to send chefs with you. If that is the problem we will try and address that as well," Singh said.