'Gorkhas are terrific soldiers. They are known the world over for their fighting qualities.'
Olympic bronze-medallist M C Mary Kom led the charge as Indian women boxers packed a powerful punch by assuring themselves of medals in each of the three weight categories at the 17th Asian Games, in Incheon on Sunday.
Hussamudin, who was competing in his debut World Championships, was scheduled to face Cuba's Saidel Horta in the last four clash.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Sunday
A historic fifth successive World Championship gold medal under her belt but star Indian woman boxer M C Mary Kom remains hungry for more and will not consider hanging up her gloves before finishing on podium at the 2012 London Olympics.
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.
Nikhat registered a dominating 5-0 victory, thrashing Thailand's Jitpong Jutamas without breaking a sweat in the 52kg final with judges scoring the bout 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, 30-27, 29-28 in the Indian's favour.
Kavita Chahal (+81kg) emerged the lone Indian woman boxer to clinch a medal at the World Championships after settling for a bronze in the semi-finals against Kazakhstan's Yuldus Mamatkulova in Qinhuangdao, China, on Friday. The Indian went down 9-15 and bowed out of the event, but was the only one from the 10-member team to fetch a medal.
The 23-year-old Naib Subedar in the Indian Army said the Pulwama terror attack, which claimed the lives of 44 CRPF personnel, was on his mind through the tournament.
A first-round defeat in the Commonwealth Games hit him so badly that Indian boxer Manpreet Singh lost the will to continue before psychatric sessions at NIS Patiala revived his confidence and "guided" him to a silver medal at the just-concluded Asian Games.
The Asian Games gold medallist was nominated last year as well but was not considered due to a failed dope test in 2012, for which he served a one-year ban.
Akhil Kumar's wound may never heal but fellow pugilists Vijender and Jitender believe they can at least ease it it by winning their quarterfinal bouts on Wednesday.
A golden dream unfulfilled for over 30 years remained just that in women's hockey but India equalled its best ever medal haul as sailors joined the assorted contributors to the country's tally at the 18th Asian Games, on Friday.
Reigning Youth National Champion Surender Singh, on Saturday assured himself at least a bronze medal in the ongoing Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of Mann by advancing into the semi-finals of the 75kg category.
Assured of an Olympic berth, Indian boxer Vikas Krishan (75kg) settled for a bronze medal in the International Boxing Association's (AIBA) World Qualifying Tournament.
Asian Games selections were biased, made to feel unworthy in national camp, claims Panghal
The Asian Olympic boxing qualifiers in Astana, Kazakhstan, did wonders to Vikas Krishan. He did not participate in it, but with three other Indian pugilists -- Shiva Thapa, Sumit Sangwan and Vijender Singh -- booking berths to the London Olympics from the tournament, he got off the media radar.
Former Sports Minister Ajay Maken termed AIBA's decision to suspend Indian woman boxer L Sarita Devi for refusing to accept bronze medal at the Asian Games podium ceremony as "unfortunate" and asked the Centre to take up the matter at the highest international level.
Seeking to distance itself from the controversy surrounding L Sarita Devi's semi-final loss at the Asian Games, recently-elected Boxing India (BI) President Sandeep Jajodia said the matter is for the IOA to resolve with world governing body, AIBA.
Following her qualification for the Olympics, India's ace boxer MC Mary Kom tells Rediff.com's Laxmi Negi she is confident of clinching a medal at the London Games.
Here's your complete guide to when India's athletes compete at the Paris Olympics, with dates, events, and timings in IST.
Asian Games medallists Vikas Krishan (75kg) and Satish Kumar (+91kg) were among the five Indian boxers who entered the finals, on Friday, while three others settled for bronze medals in what is turning out to be India's best ever performance inside the ring at the Commonwealth Games.
India have done reasonably well in the quadrennial continental event, only twice finishing outside the top eight since hosting the first Asiad in 1951.
Vikas Krishan, one of the three Indian boxers to qualify for the Rio Olympics, is confident of winning a bronze medal at the upcoming Games, which could be his last.
An American ended his Olympic dream in 2012 amid controversial circumstances and Vikas Krishan will have redemption on mind when he takes on another American Charles Conwell in his opening bout to kick off India's boxing campaign in the Olympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro, on Tuesday.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Sunday
Lovlina Borgohain, who clinched the welterweight (69kg) bronze at Tokyo Olympics, spoke about the hardships she endured to get where she is, the joy of watching the triumph of human spirit at the Games
The actress told a television channel, Aaj Tak that she is ready to go on a date with Indian boxer Vijender Kumar if he wins a gold medal for India at the Olympics.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Monday
Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year twice in a row.
Olympic bronze medalists Vijender Singh and Sushil Kumar on Tuesday said Indian athletes are preparing hard for the fast-approaching Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games and the country can expect a rich medal haul in the twin events.
'I have boxed at the amateur level for 15, 16 years and won every medal possible at the world level. I represented India in three Olympics, for 12 years, and that is not an easy thing. I am hoping to replicate my success in pro boxing.'
Mary Kom wants Asian Games to be her swansong
Also ending with a bronze was tournament debutant and national champion Varinder Singh (60kg) after a high-intensity clash against Iran's Daniyal Shahbakhsh. The Indian lost 2-3 after fighting his heart out.
Indian athletes, including the boxers and shooters, hit the ground running as they started their pre-Olympic training, hoping to live up to massive expectations in the pandemic-hit Games in Tokyo.
India's lone boxing franchise Mumbai Fighters is ready with its line-up of Indian and international pugilists in a 17-strong squad for the $5million World Series of Boxing commencing November 11 in Mumbai.
Former world champion woman boxer Aruna Mishra said five-time world champion M C Mary Kom, who qualified for the London Olympics, has a fair chance of winning a medal for the country.
Jai Bhagwan was the only among the eight-member Indian team to make it to the medal-winning round.
It was gold rush for India at the Asian Junior Boxing Championships in Dubai on Sunday with four pugilists from the country winning gold medals.
Sports Authority of India rejected reports on Friday that minor boxers were subjected to pregnancy tests in a camp for the World Championships this month, saying that the squad does not have a single under-18 in its ranks.
