Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh and Akhil Kumar will spearhead India's challenge at the World Elite Men's Boxing Championships to be held in Milan in September as a nine-member team for the event was announced, on Saturday.

The selection committee of the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation picked the players for the 12-day event at a meeting on July 16 at National Institute of Sports in Patiala.

Vijender will compete in the 75 kg category while Akhil will trade punches in the 57 kg category.

Manipur's Nanao Singh, who became the first Indian to win a gold medal at the AIBA World Youth Boxing championship, will compete in 48 kg category.

Suranjoy Singh (51 kg), the Asian Championship gold medal winner and Jai Bhagwan Singh (60 kg), the silver medallist at the same event held in China last month, are also in the team.

Olympian Jitender Kumar (54 kg), Manoj Kumar (64 kg), Dinesh Kumar (81 kg) and Manpreet Singh (91 kg) are the other team members.

"Considering the high-level of competition, the selection Committee did not recommend participation in 69 kgs and +91 kgs as they were of the unanimous opinion that the competition in these two categories will be extremely tough for our available boxers," an IABF press release said.