And although cynosure Dingko Singh, of Bangkok Asiad gold medal fame, will be around to display his wares at the four-day long championships, the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) have sent two observers -- Chief national coach Gurcharan Singh along with Arjuna awardee Munaswamy Venu -- to size up talent.

Not merely because the Services are quite simply the nation's powerhouse when it comes to pugilist prowess, but with recent heroism shown by Dingko and Asiad bronze medalist Gurcharan Singh, Indian boxing -- like Agni II in the sphere of space and defence -- is on the verge of taking on a new dimension.

Perhaps befittingly, and about time too, the computerised scoring system will be employed for the first time ever. Organising Committee chairman Brig. GRC Nair and secretary Colonel Suresh Bagwe provided the information while briefing pressmen this afternoon at the venue of the championships which kick-off tomorrow at 5.30 p.m.

National Games and Championships winners will dominate the field comprising four teams -- two from the Army and one each from the Navy and Air Force -- who will fight for honours in 12 weight categories.

Several Arjuna awardees will slug it out -- as well as play an equally significant role outside the ring. Illustrious boxers of yesteryear S Jairaman and Mukund Killekar -- armed forces stalwarts both -- will be ring officials. Besides Navy's bantamweight Dingko, with two gold apiece at the National Games and Championships, and one at the King's Cup at Bangkok, Sikh Regiment's Olympian Gurcharan Singh's will tread the canvas with an impressive list of honours under his belt. These include three gold at the National Games and another at the SAF Games.