In a bid to put an end to the drug controversy, the Sports Ministry on Monday directed the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) to immediately carry out dope tests on star boxer Vijender Singh, who has been accused of consuming heroin by the Punjab police.
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Sunday said he does not think boxer Vijender Singh has any involvement with the drug haul case in Punjab, stressing that law would take its own course.
In a massive blow to star Indian boxer Vijender Singh, his friend Ram Singh has claimed that the Olympic bronze-medallist consumed drugs with him on a few occasions but insisted that the duo mistook the contraband for food supplements.
One of the key accused in the drug haul case from Zirakpur allegedly attempted suicide, even as Punjab Police maintained that no decision has been taken yet on summoning boxer Vijender Singh after the Olympic medallist's name cropped up.
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.
The administrators are busy thrashing out resumption plans but with the COVID-19 pandemic showing no signs of slowing down, India's sportsperson are pleading for caution as discussion rages on whether competitions can resume by August. Top stars from various disciplines want the waiting period to continue, while others pointed out at the loss it would cause in terms of fitness and readiness.
The sagging morale of Indian contingent at the London Games got a much-needed boost when key medal contenders Saina Nehwal,Vijender Singh and Jai Bhagwan began their respective campaigns with a bang.
Elated and exhausted in equal measure after being crowned the WBO Asia Pacific champion, Indian boxing star Vijender Singh says he will savour the triumph for a while before looking at the possibility of a showdown with Pakistan-origin British star Amir Khan, who is keen for a face-off with him.
Beijing Olympic bronze-medallist Vijender Singh said given a chance he would not mind stepping in clean to up the mess that the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation finds itself in following the ban imposed by the International Boxing Association (AIBA).
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Thursday
Rediff.com recaptures these and other exciting sporting moments from the week gone by....
A fun episode of 10 Ka Dum featuring Salman's celebrity guests Mallika Sherawat and Vijender Singh.
It was a felicitation function meant to honour him but Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda created quite a flutter by taking a jibe at star boxer Vijender Singh's "under-performance" at last month's Olympics in London.
Heartbroken after missing out on what would have been his second successive Olympic medal, star Indian boxer Vijender Singh said inconsistent judging affected the morale of Indian pugilists who drew a blank at the mega-event in London.
A factory belonging to relatives of an Arjuna award winner was on Sunday searched by Punjab police in a village in Fatehgarh Sahib in the wake of recovery of 26 kg haul of heroin with a street value of Rs 130 crore.
Indian athletes will be in action in various disciplines at the 2012 Olympics on Monday. Check out their schedule.
In a tweet shared by the Congress party, the 47-year-old is seen in various Aikido positions with Sensei Paritos Kar.
Ending days of speculation, the Indian Olympic Association on Sunday announced that wrestler Sushil Kumar, a bronze medallist at the Beijing Games, will be the flag bearer of the Indian contingent at the upcoming London Olympics.
Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh (75 kg) and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Paramjeet Samota (+91 kg) are among the Indian elite men boxers selected for the Asian Continental Olympics Boxing Qualification tournament to be held at Astana, Kazakhstan from April 5-12.
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.
'I've got a huge Indian homecoming to look forward to this summer so it's vital I get pasy next opponent in Bolton.'
After cashing in on the Munni campaign to market the Zandu Balm brand in 2010, the company has now roped in five sporting icons -- cricketer Gautam Gambhir, Olympic medal winning boxer Vijender Singh, badminton champion Saina Nehwal, five-time world boxing champion Mary Kom and wrestler Sushil Kumar -- for its Fast Relief brand.
Indian tennis star Leander Paes, who recently completed his career Grand Slam, was on Sunday chosen for 'Legend of Sport' award by NDTV, which announced the Spirit of Sport awards in New Delhi.
After successfully defending the WBO Asia-Pacific title India's boxing star Vijender Singh will next be on the prowl for a new belt and could possibly be challenging for the Commonwealth or the Oriental crown in the next couple of months.
In an exclusive interview with Rediff.com's Harish Kotian, Vijender analyses his performance in London and reveals the reason for switching his weight category.
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.
India's star pugilist Vijender Singh bowed out of the London Games on Monday night after losing 13-17 to Uzbekistan's Abbos Atoev in the quarter-finals of the middleweight category, at the Excel Arena.
Vijender Singh (75kg) became the first Indian boxer to qualify for the Olympic Games for a third successive time after reaching the semi-finals of the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Sunday.
Olympic bronze-medallist Vijender Singh stood just one win away from securing a berth in the London Games after clinching his pre-quarterfinal bout, along with Manpreet Singh, on a second successive triumphant day for India at the Asian Boxing Qualifiers in Astana, Kazakhstan on Friday.
India's star pugilist Vijender Singh got off to a winning start at the London Olympics, scoring a convincing victory over Danabek Suzhanov of Kazakhstan, in the men's middleweight 75-kg category, on Saturday. The Beijing Olympics bronze medallist scored a 14-10 win in his first bout at the ExCel to advance to the Round of 16.
There was no stopping Indian boxing star Vijender Singh as he notched up his fourth successive knockout professional win by pummelling Hungary's Alexander Horvath in under three rounds in Liverpool on Saturday night. Vijender had little trouble outpunching his opponent, who failed to get up after being thrown off balance by his body blows in the third round of the six-round contest of the middlewight (75kg) category late last night. "I don't know what happened to him, I think he was looking to get out by making an excuse. It's a good start to the year for me. I am happy to register another knockout win. I think this is a great start for me looking ahead to my WBO Asia title bout in India (on June 11) this year," Vijender said after the bout. "My target is to win the Asia title in front of my home crowd and looking forward to register two more knockout wins in April before I play in India," he added. The 30-year-old Indian, who went into the contest on the back of three successive knockout triumphs, continued to be a cut above his rivals, who talk big but deliver little inside the ring.
Vikas Krishan returned to amateur fold in December last and having qualified for the Tokyo Games, will head back to the pro circuit in the USA, most likely next month.
Gurbaksh Singh Sandhu is retiring after London Games and the only farewell gift he wants from his wards is to bring home better than the bronze medal Vijender Singh notched up in Beijing four years ago.
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.
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.
With the Ireland weather similar to London, this is basically seen as a trip to help the young squad get acclimatized to the conditions likely to be encountered at the Olympic Games.
India will have an unprecedented seven boxers in the Olympic Games after teen sensations Shiva Thapa (56kg) and Sumit Sangwan (81kg) earned their London tickets by advancing to the finals in the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Star Indian boxer Vijender Singh (75kg) was handed out a tricky draw on at the London Olympics Friday. He begins his quest to better his Beijing Games bronze medal-winning feat against Danabek Suzhanov of Kazakhstan in the men's boxing competition, which gets underway on Saturday.
Vikas Krishan Yadav would baulk at the idea of paying to watch someone box like himself in the ring but the chess-playing Indian remains committed to his tried and tested "boring" technique to win an Olympic medal.