BHIWANI (Haryana): Life in this Haryana town came to a virtual standstill on Friday as hundreds gathered in front of television sets to watch local lad Vijender Kumar fight for a boxing silver in the Beijing Olympics.
The Indian boxer, who is already assured of a bronze medal, lost 5-8 to Cuban Emilio Correa Bayeaux in the semi-finals of the middleweight (75 kg) category.
People gathered in hundreds outside Vijender's house in Kaluwas village on the outskirts of this town to watch the crucial bout on a giant projection screen put up for them.
Most school and college students stayed at home to watch the match.
The excitement that built up since morning soon gave way to pindrop silence as Vijender lost the well-fought bout.
But fellow boxers said they were not entirely disappointed with Vijender's semi-final loss as he had fought well, even in winning the bronze medal - the first one in boxing for India - in the Olympics.
