It’s official Vijender’s going to London
“I’m back,” were Vijender Singh’s first words after he qualified for the London Olympics. He defeated Chuluuntumur Tumurkhuyag of Mongolia 27-17 in the quarterfinals of the middle-weight category (75 kg) at the Asian Olympic qualifiers in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Sunday. The feat also made the Bhiwani-based boxer the first Indian pugilist to qualify for three straight Olympic Games.
Vijender had earned detractors after failing to book a ticket for London in his first attempt at last year’s World Championships. But the Beijing Olympics bronze medallist never lost hope. It wasn’t as easy for Vijender as the scoreline suggests. He was slow off the blocks and trailed 4-6 at the end of the first round.
But Vijender is at his best when pushed to the wall. He came out all guns blazing in the second, making good use of his long reach and hard-hitting straight punches. He won the second round 9-5 and led the bout 13-11.
The 26-year-old didn’t allow complacency to creep in and went for the kill in the final round. The Mongolian boxer had no answer to his upper cuts and straight punches. Vijender won the third round 14-6 to complete a turnaround.
So exhausted was he after the bout that he could barely walk back to the changing room. He had to be escorted by coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu. “I have answered my critics who said I was finished (after losing in the first round of the worlds),” said the former World No 1, who has assured himself of a medal at the ongoing tournament.
Before the Beijing Games, Vijender had won gold at the Asian qualifiers which in Kazakhstan. “I will now give it my all in the Olympics and prove that I am the best. It’s such a relief to have qualified. The fact that I am the first Indian boxer to have qualified for three successive Olympic Games makes it all the more special,” he said.He is the fifth Indian boxer to have secured a London berth after Vikas Krishan (69 kg), Manoj Kumar (64 kg), Jai Bhagwan (60 kg) and rookie Devendro Singh (49kg). Teen sensation Shiva Thapa (56 kg), too, has a chance to book a place for the Games, should he prevail in the quarterfinals on Monday. However, he’s up against veteran Thai Worapoj Petchkoon. Petchkoon had won silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics and is the reigning Asiad champ.
Vijender had earned detractors after failing to book a ticket for London in his first attempt at last year’s World Championships. But the Beijing Olympics bronze medallist never lost hope. It wasn’t as easy for Vijender as the scoreline suggests. He was slow off the blocks and trailed 4-6 at the end of the first round.
But Vijender is at his best when pushed to the wall. He came out all guns blazing in the second, making good use of his long reach and hard-hitting straight punches. He won the second round 9-5 and led the bout 13-11.
The 26-year-old didn’t allow complacency to creep in and went for the kill in the final round. The Mongolian boxer had no answer to his upper cuts and straight punches. Vijender won the third round 14-6 to complete a turnaround.
So exhausted was he after the bout that he could barely walk back to the changing room. He had to be escorted by coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu. “I have answered my critics who said I was finished (after losing in the first round of the worlds),” said the former World No 1, who has assured himself of a medal at the ongoing tournament.
Before the Beijing Games, Vijender had won gold at the Asian qualifiers which in Kazakhstan. “I will now give it my all in the Olympics and prove that I am the best. It’s such a relief to have qualified. The fact that I am the first Indian boxer to have qualified for three successive Olympic Games makes it all the more special,” he said.He is the fifth Indian boxer to have secured a London berth after Vikas Krishan (69 kg), Manoj Kumar (64 kg), Jai Bhagwan (60 kg) and rookie Devendro Singh (49kg). Teen sensation Shiva Thapa (56 kg), too, has a chance to book a place for the Games, should he prevail in the quarterfinals on Monday. However, he’s up against veteran Thai Worapoj Petchkoon. Petchkoon had won silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics and is the reigning Asiad champ.
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