New Delhi:
Indian boxing talisman Vijender Singh spearheads the home nation's hopes for Commonwealth Games medals but the country's fighters face tough opposition.
The 24-year-old middleweight became a national hero when he won bronze in Beijing in 2008, giving India its first boxing Olympic medal and boosting the sport's popularity across the country.
He is now hoping to go one better than the silver he won in Melbourne four years ago, when India bagged five medals, including gold in the bantamweight division (56kg) for Akhil Kumar, who is also in the squad for New Delhi.
"I will be very happy if we land all the 10 golds on offer at the Commonwealth Games," Singh told the Times of India newspaper.
That may be wishful thinking, with England seeking to build on its success in 2006, when it topped the medal table with five gold, one silver and two bronze.
England go into the tournament with the best pedigree, having accumulated 106 medals since the Games were first held in 1930, and are eyeing the competition as a key part of preparations for the London Olympics in 2012.
Like the Olympics, the amateurs-only event -- decided on points over four, two-minute rounds, unless the referee stops the bout before the final bell -- is seen as a traditional springboard to the professional game.
India's Singh could face Anthony Ogogo, a promising former youth champion middleweight. England's 10-man team also includes Khalid Yafai, Iain Weaver and Tom Stalker, who all won silver at the recent European championships.
Flyweight Yafai, 21, is a former Commonwealth Youth Games medallist and fought at the last Olympics with light welterweight Bradley Saunders and both will be looking to make their experience count.
Welterweight Callum Smith, 20, will be hoping to emulate his brothers Paul and Stephen, who have each won Commonwealth Games medals in the ring.
Australia, who topped the boxing medal table in Manchester in 2002, feature five teenagers making their Games debuts.
They include 19-year-old twins Andrew and Jason Moloney in the light flyweight (46-49kg) and flyweight (49-52kg) categories. They are the third set of twins to represent the country at the Games.
Much-fancied Damien Hooper is a favourite in the middleweight division, fresh from winning gold in the inaugural Youth Olympics in Singapore.
Experience comes from 2006 featherweight bronze medallist Luke Jackson, who is making the step up to lightweight.
Canada, also a traditionally strong boxing team, are hoping to recover from a disappointing Melbourne Games, which saw them win a solitary silver. Team bosses have set themselves a target of four medals.
Africa's boxers won 14 medals last time round, with the so-called "Black Bombers" of Ghana, along with Nigeria and Kenya expected to put in strong performances.