India's star boxer Vijender Singh does not want to carry the baggage of last year's maiden defeat on the professional circuit as he returns to the ring.
Six-time World champion M C Mary Kom and Nikhat Zareen will clash in the 51kg category final of the women's boxing trials for next year's 2020 Tokyo Olympic Qualifiers after claiming unanimous victories in their respective first-round bouts, in New Delhi, on Friday. Former junior World champion Zareen defeated reigning national champion Jyoti Gulia, while multiple-time Asian champion Mary Kom got the better of Ritu Grewal.
India's nine Olympic-bound boxers will travel abroad for a three-week training stint after getting a few days' break following a record-shattering medal haul by the country's pugilists at the recently-concluded Asian Championships in Dubai.
Olympic-bound Indian boxers Shiva Thapa and Vikas Krishan started their build-up for the mega-event on a winning note. Both entered the second round of the third International Republic of Kazakhstan President's Cup in Almaty.
Olympic hero Vijender Singh was, on Saturday, ousted in the very first round, upstaged by his Cuban nemesis Emilio Correa Bayeux, but Jai Bhagwan entered the second round on a mixed day for Indian boxers at the World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Jeremy Lalrinnunga smashed two Games records on his way to a sensational gold medal win
Asian Games will be a reality check for India's athletes after the Commonwealth Games high
London Olympics bronze medallist M C Mary Kom was on Monday voted the 'Most Valuable Player' of India's campaign at the Incheon Asian Games, at a felicitation for the medal winners by the contingent sponsors, Samsung India.
'I don't really care for awards for myself but I would be grateful if Anil Dhankar, my formative coach is considered for the Dronacharya'
He had already scripted history but the Indian boxing ace said he wasn't quite done as he aimed for the gold in the World Championship
Vikas, who has signed up with the legendary Bob Arum's Top Rank Promotions, made his debut in what was to be a six-round super welterweight contest. The bout, however, lasted just two rounds.
India's top boxer Vijender Singh was knocked out after an intense second-round contest on a day of mixed fortunes for India that saw Shiva Thapa and comeback-man Nanao Singh punch their way in to the pre-quarters at the World Boxing Championships in Almaty. Kazakhstan.
The boxers hardly broke a sweat while scooping all the seven gold medals up for grabs, while the shooters ended their campaign with an outstanding tally of 25 gold medals to ensure India's reign at the top remained unchecked in the 12th South Asian Games in Guwahati on Monday. On the penultimate day of competition, the Indian was perched at the top with 289 medals (173 gold, 86 silver and 30 bronze).
Six-time World champion M C Mary Kom's (51kg) pursuit of a second Olympic medal ended in the pre-quarterfinals of the Tokyo Games as she went down to 2016 edition's bronze-medallist Ingrit Valencia in a fiercely-fought showdown.
Here are five boxers to watch when the Games kick off
'The foundation is grateful to both central and state government for establishment of these sports facilities after many years of struggle since its inception in 2006'
Taking a strict action, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) has provisionally suspended India's woman boxer Laishram Sarita Devi for refusing to accept the bronze medal at the Asian Games podium ceremony.
In the medal standings, India were placed eighth with a compilation of seven gold, five silver and 17 bronze.
India's boxer Shiva Thapa says throwing caution to the wind and hurting rivals from the very first second is helping him rediscover himself after enduring an erratic season last year.
'I am actually quicker now than before,' Boxing legend Mary Kom tells Pavan Lall.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Sunday
'I will try my best to win gold at the Olympics. You can be assured that I will put in more than 100 per cent to achieve it.'
Not taking too kindly to Vijender Singh calling him a "kid", pugilist Neeraj Goyat on Saturday challenged the Indian boxing ace for a fight in November.
As the curtains come down at the Tokyo Olympics, here's a glance at the medallists and those who came within touching distance of glory.
Mary will be up against fellow Indian and Asian Championships bronze medallist Nikhat Zareen in a blockbuster semi-final as the duo confirmed two medals for India.
However, Asian Games bronze winner Pooja Rai settled for a bronze medal after going down to the Netherlands' Nouchka Fontijn.
Indian sports had a lot to celebrate despite a decrease in the medal count at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.
Vikas Krishan Yadav has learned from the bitterest experience that he can leave nothing to chance in the Olympic ring and it is a lesson the Indian boxer will carry with him to the Rio Games.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Saturday
Mary Kom will represent the Asian bloc in the group
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Tuesday
Indian boxer Vikas Krishan Yadav is setting his eyes on a gold medal in the third Olympics of his life in Tokyo
For the Dronacharya awards, the BFI has finalised the names of national women's coach Mohammed Ali Qamar and assistant coach Chhote Lal Yadav.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Thursday
Amit Panghal displayed soldier's grit to stun the reigning Olympic champion for India's only boxing gold while two 50-plus bridge players proved that age is just a number with top finishes as the country achieved its best-ever medal haul at the Asian Games, in Jakarta, on Saturday. India equalled its best gold medal haul by touching 15, something that last happened back in 1951, as the overall tally surpassed the 65 in Guangzhou by three this time.
India's boxers are headed in the right direction and will do something big at the Tokyo Olympic Games next year, reckons High Performance Director Santiago Nieva.
Teen boxing sensation Vikas Krishan (69kg), who fetched India's lone medal at last month's World Championships, zoomed to a career-best second spot but Olympic hero Vijender Singh (75kg) did not find a place in the latest international rankings issued by AIBA.
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Saturday.
'She has not forgotten where she comes from.' 'It is unfortunate that we do not celebrate her boxing career, but she says she has learned to be happy.' 'All the rejections and corruption has given her courage.'
The pint-sized dynamo from Rohtak became the first Indian male boxer to claim a silver medal at the World Championships, which concluded in Ekaterinburg, Russia on Saturday.
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