Vijender Singh, whose dream of bagging back-to-back Olympic medals came crashing down on Monday, is planning to switch to the light-heavyweight category (81 kg) in a bid to win more medals.
The "burden" of qualification off his back, star Indian boxer Vijender Singh is now gearing up to shoulder a fresh burden -- the one of heightened expectations -- when he appears in his third successive Olympic Games in London in July-August.
For the first time, three top sportspersons -- boxers M C Mary Kom and Vijender Singh, and wrestler Sushil Kumar -- were selected for the country's highest sporting honour, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna. While the prestigious award was previously shared by two sportspersons in 1996-97 and 2002-03, Wednesday marked the first time that three were picked for the coveted honour for outstanding performances in 2008-09.
Manu Bhaker on Tuesday admitted that "there has been a lapse may be on my part" while filing nominations
Worried about the administrative logjam in Indian boxing, recently-crowned WBO Asia Pacific champion Vijender Singh pleaded with the officials to put together a new federation at the earliest for the sake of country's pugilists.
Delay in getting visas has prevented Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh and Dinesh Kumar from joining the Indian boxing team in Bugeat, France for a training trip and the duo will now head straight to the World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan on September 20.
Former European champion Kerry Hope was on Monday unveiled as Indian boxing star Vijender Singh's opponent for the eagerly-anticipated WBO Asia title bout to be held on July 16 in New Delhi.
Samet Hyuseinov has promised to send Vijender Singh back to India 'beaten and broken' come December 19 but the Indian boxing star merely breaks into laughter at the very mention of the threat, saying he would respond in kind inside the ring. Speaking to PTI from Manchester, Vijender (75kg) said he has increased his sparring sessions ahead of his third bout and is focusing on endurance and power. "How do you respond to such threats? I can only laugh, let him say what he feels like. He has all the freedom to say what he wants. But I talk only in the ring and in a language he will understand quite well," the former Olympic World Championships bronze-medallist said.
'Boxing is all about being aggressive and maintaining a tempo while you are in the ring. I film-making I realised how important it was to take a step back and be patient.'
The London Olympics disappointment behind him, Indian boxing star Vijender Singh is all set to pack a heavier punch from next year when he goes up a division to light heavyweight (81kg) for the World Championships.
Vijender Singh (75kg) turned in a solid showing despite being down with viral fever to beat Sweden's Hampus Henriksson in his opening bout at the World Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Thursday.
More than eight months after he won India its first Olympic medal in boxing, Vijender Singh returns to the ring, confident that the time away from action would not make him rusty when he dons the gloves in a European Grand Prix event from May 13 to 18. The 23-year-old middle weight bronze medallist from the Beijing Olympics would be up against top boxers from Europe and Cuba in the event.
Beijing Olympics bronze medallis Vijender Singh breaks his silence on the sensational drug scandal that severely hurt his reputation, insisting it has left him stronger and wiser.
With Vikas Krishan making the cut for Olympics in the 75kg category, the door is shut on the much celebrated Vijender Singh, who was eyeing qualification to the Rio Games ever since the International Boxing Association (AIBA) allowed professional boxers to compete in the quadrennial showpiece.
He rose from anonymity with a bronze in Beijing that was as good as gold for Indian boxing but set for an unprecedented third Olympic appearance, Vijender Singh wants to remain oblivious -- at least to the pressure that comes with being one of the country's biggest stars at the greatest sporting show on earth.
Five Indian boxers, aiming for glory at the upcoming Paris Olympics, will embark on a month-long training camp in Germany.
The Olympics bronze medallist will co-host 'The Contender', an adaption of a popular US television series that is based a group of boxers who compete against each other in a single elimination style competition.
Indian boxing star Vijender Singh is ready to trade blows with Pakistan-born British professional Amir Khan and accepted his challenge to fight in India, saying it will prove to be a big boost to the sport in the country. Two-time former world champion, Amir, who has been training intensively for his much-anticipated WBC title contest against Mexico's Saul 'Canelo Alvarez want to fight against Vijender soon in India. Commenting on Amir Khan's challenge, Vijender said: "I accept the challenge of Amir Khan and I am sure this fight will be a big boost to boxing in our country. "As we both fight in different weight categories so will have to see whether Amir gains or I have to lose weight. I have started my professional boxing career last year only and have made only 4 appearances in the pro ring.
'It is gruelling but I am enjoying the grind. My body hasn't felt better'
The Asian Olympic Qualifiers are his last chance to book a ticket to the London Games but starIndian boxer Vijender Singh claims he is least bit intimidated by the challenge at hand as the situation is all too familiar.
Indian boxing star Vijender Singh's power-packed punches went unchallenged yet again as he notched up his fifth successive knockout win.
Vijender, who won a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, has signed up with popular British boxing promoter Francis Warren in the UK.
The 25-year-old pugilist from Bhiwani tells Harish Kotian, winning an Olympic gold medal is his dream and he is leaving no stone unturned to achieve it.
As he gears up to chase his 'London Dreams' with the first Olympic qualifiers next month, star Indian boxer Vijender Singh is not just working hard on his game, he is also trying to figure out an all-new system of scoring that has left him "confused".
Indian boxer Vijender Singh on Sunday announced that he will tie the knot with a Delhi girl on Tuesday.
Olympic bronze medallist and middle weight (75kg) top seed Vijender Singh started his campaign in style, beating Kazakhstan's Azamat Belgibayev to enter the pre-quarterfinals of the World Boxing Championships in Milan, on Saturday. The 23-year-old world number two, who was conferred the Khel Ratna award last month, defeated his rival 14-8.
As part of his preparations for next year's London Olympics, Asian Games gold medallist boxer Vijender Singh is considering shifting his base to Europe for training in the run-up to the mega event.
It is the the biggest fight of his emergent professional career, but Indian boxing star Vijender Singh said the WBO Asia title contest against Kerry Hope is no huge deal for him and he is taking it as just another stepping stone in the circuit. The 30-year-old dasher, who is unbeaten in the professional arena, has won all his bouts via konckouts. Eyeing a seventh knockout in what is meant to be a 10-round contest, Vijender said his approach to the contest is no different from the one he had for his previous bouts.
In a fresh development, the investigating officers have revealed that the man arrested with heroin did not mention Vijender Singh. The boxer is only being probed because of the car found outside that Zirakpur flat.
Vijender Singh might say that he would give Olympic qualification a shot after doors were thrown open for professional boxers but his UK-based promoter Francis Warren, on Monday, made it clear that India's biggest star simply does not have the time left to try for a Rio ticket.
Nita Ambani, the chairperson at Reliance Foundation and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member from India, hosted a gala dinner in honour of Thomas Bach, IOC president.
Indian boxing's image continued to take a massive beating with the Sports Authority of India on Sunday expelling Olympic medallist Vijender Singh's roommate Ram Singh from the national camp here after he confessed to consuming drugs.
He hardly feels the burden of expectations that come with competing on home turf at the Commonwealth Games because India's World No 1 boxer Vijender Singh says he considers himself simply the best.
Vijender Singh speaks about his journey from humble beginnings in Kalwash village of Bhiwani district to becoming the only Indian boxer who will have the unique distinction of partaking in three Olympics.
In Australian Kerry Hope, Vijender Singh faces a plucky opponent who has the potential to surprise the home favourite
Indian boxing star Vijender Singh has dedicated his fourth successive professional triumph to the Indian Armed Forces personnel who were martyred in the Pathankot terror attack. The 30-year-old from Haryana put up another dominating show to knock out Hungary's Alexander Horvath in under three rounds last night in what was to be a six-round contest. "I dedicate this win to the martyrs of Indian Armed Forces during Jammu and Pathankot attacks," said Vijender after the bout. The bout against Horvath was Vijender's first of the year after three successive knockout wins last year. "I'm thrilled to get my fourth professional victory and excited for what the future holds for me. I'm happy to get another knockout win and really want to push on from here with some big performances is 2016. I was better prepared for my fight this time because this fight was postponed for almost a month," he said.
After a knockout debut, star Indian boxer Vijender Singh will face Englishman Dean Gillen in his second professional bout and the part-time firefighter has promised to be a 'dangerous opponent' in the bout scheduled in London, on October 30.
National Wrestling coach Virendra Dahiya believes that Vinesh Phogat at least deserved a silver medal after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dismissed her appeal.
'Boxing is a sport and sometimes one punch can make a difference.'
After skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Shikhar Dhawan, it's former cricketer Virender Sehwag, who has now jumped into the political bandwagon. The former India opener posted on his official Twitter account, appealing agitating protesters to cease violence immediately and sort out the issues peacefully by staying within the limits of Indian constitution. "I request all my brothers to voice their differences and protest by staying within the limits of our constitution. We are saviors and not violent predators," Sehwag posted on his twitter account," Sehwag wrote on his Twitter handle. "Our army and sportspersons fight for the country's pride. Our (the citizen's) passion should work in the benefit of India and not against it," he added. Sehwag's comments come in the backdrop of a raging debate on freedom of expression after an event against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru was held at the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus where anti-national slogans were allegedly raised. Earlier Dhoni had also voiced his opinion by hailing the Indian army, saying that the nation is in a position to debate on freedom of expression because of the men in uniform.
