Kollam: Kerala's Kollam will be the first district in the state to get a boxing academy for school students. The boxing academy is being constructed under the supervision of district panchayat at government higher secondary school at Perinad in Kollam.  

The academy will be functioning in association with the district sports council and the amateur boxing association. The 25 lakh project aims to identify talent among the school students and impart scientific training to them.

The school students will get an opportunity to learn a different talent, which is not in their textbook. The students will be provided punching gloves, punching pads, boxing gear, gloves and head guards. The training will be given to both high school and higher secondary school students. According to sources, the academy will start functioning before July end. 

The panchayat authorities said that the training would be provided without interrupting regular school hours, mostly hour-long sessions in the mornings, evenings and during holidays. Training at the academy will be offered free of cost. They also said that they are ready to welcome students from other places into the academy.

The panchayat authority also said that this initiative of boxing academy came after consultation with experts and the academy would also be used to conduct other events. The authority also believes that they can bring up more champions through the boxing academy.

The same district panchayat is also planning to open a Kabaddi institute for students in Kollam.