Kolte pockets Military Games gold, eyes London

PANAJI: World Cadet silver medallist Sanjay Kolte is back in the limelight after a one-year sabbatical. He clinched the gold medal in the just concluded World Military Games, in North Carolina (United States). Kolte beat Juliao Neto of Brazil 4-0 in the final.
Boxers from 14 countries participated in the Games - which was a watered down event due to the Commonwealth Games - including Italy, France, Brazil, Ireland, US, Kazakhistan, Ukraine, Sri Lanka and The Netherlands among others.
"The competition was quite stiff but I am fitter now than I was earlier this year and I am training harder. The Military Games gold is the first step towards achieving my Olympic goal," a happy Kolte told TOI in a telephonic conversation on Wednesday.
Kolte, who stormed his way into the national team in the lightfly category eight years ago and was soon adopted by Gold Quest, was laid low in 2009 with a stomach injury which saw Amandeep Singh taking his place in the lightfly category at the Commonwealth Games.
Kolte picked up a bronze in the Super Cup in Mumbai in January and went on to win the gold in the Federation Cup in February.
Unfortunately, the Army Institute of Sports boxer did not fare well in the senior nationals and was forced to miss out on the Commonwealth Games.
However, Kolte found himself in the reserve national camp for the forthcoming Asian Games in July before going on to win the gold at the World Military Games in a heavier category, the flyweight.
Kolte gives himself just 1 per cent chance of making it to the Asian Games squad. "Being in the reserves, it is very rare that a boxer gets a chance to make it to the main team," said Kolte.
Kolte, 24, made headlines when he won silver in the World Cadet Championship at 16 and was soon inducted in ASI. The promising boxer did well at the Doha Asian Games, making the quarterfinals.
He is keeping his fingers crossed now as he gets ready to the national camp in Patiala on Thursday.
Kolte, who is being supported by Olympic Gold Quest until the 2012 London Olympics, believes the gold earned at the World Military Games is the beginning of his comeback to the national team and he is targeting the London Olympics.
"I am desperate to make it to the Olympics and will train harder than ever to achieve my goal. I just don't want to make the team but also earn India an Olympic medal in boxing," said Kolte.
India at the World Military Games:
49kgs: Devendra Singh: Bronze
52kgs: Sanjay Kolte: Gold
56kgs: Sanotsh Singh: Gold
69kgs: Amit Karki: Silver.