Expressing guarded optimism, the Athens-bound Indian boxers said they are hoping against getting "overawed" by the strong field in the Olympic Games competition, beginning on August 14.
"We are taking the Olympics as just another international competition. We are concentrating on our individual performances and trying not to get overawed by the strong field," Jitender Kumar, who will contest in the light-heavyweight category, said at the send-off ceremony organised for the boxers in Delhi on Wednesday.
Jitender, the senior-most member of the team, having the experience of participating at the Sydney Games, said he will try his best for a podium finish this time.
"In these four years I have worked on my technique and strength. Recently, I also won the gold in Commonwealth Championships in Malaysia.
"We had also intensified our training programme during the last one year and I am looking to peak at the main event," the 6-ft-3-inch boxer said.
The function was organised for the ACC-sponsored pugilists Jitender, Akhil Kumar and Vijender Singh. The fourth member of the team, Diwakar Prasad in the bantamweight, is being sponsored by Tata Steel.
Flyweight Akhil also appeared relaxed and said his main aim is reaching the semi-finals.
"My target is to be included in the medal race by booking a berth in the semi-finals. That itself would be a historic moment for the country," the 23-year-old said.
The reticent Vijender, who has been pulled out of the junior-level for the mega-event, said though he does not have much exposure of participating in international tournaments, leave alone the Olympics, seniors like Jitender were a big help during the preparations.
"I may be a greenhorn but my seniors are giving me tips as how to go about the big event," the youngest-ever boxer representing the country in the quadrennial extravaganza said.
The light-welterweight boxer proved his worth by bagging a bronze medal in a pre-Olympic event held at the same venue where the main event at the Games will be held.
The boxers also said their motivation level is high, thanks to Cuban expert I B Fernandez and chief coach G S Sandhu.
Sandhu said expectations are high from the lot since they had earned the qualifications at early stages of their careers.
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