BEIJING: A slice of history and an Olympic bronze already in his pocket, Vijender will show up in Friday's semifinal with nothing to lose and only newer heights to gain.
Though the strapping six-footer from Haryana has achieved his primary goal and cannot wait to stand atop the podium with the medal dangling from his neck, success has only whetted his appetite and Vijender says he is hungry for more.
"I've achieved what I came here for and none can take it away. That surely takes the pressure off my shoulders and I'll be in a free state of mind tomorrow," said Vijender, ahead of his 75kg semifinal bout against formidable Cuban Emilio Correa Bayeaux at the Worker's Stadium here.
"But that does not mean I'll just go through the motions tomorrow. It will be the same vigour and the intensity too would remain same. I'm going for the gold," Vijender said.
The two-time Pan-American champion Cuban would not be an easy meat but if Vijender's recent form is to go by, the Indian who would enjoy a slight height advantage has it in him to punch the Cuban's light out.
"I don't think personal reputation would count. So many world champions and Olympic medallists have bowed out, losing to unheralded opponents," added Vijender, who beat Athens gold medallist Bakhtiyar Atrayev in a recent competition.
Son of Emilio Correa Vailant, one of the best boxers in the 1970s who won the welterweight gold in the 1972 Munich Olympics, Bayeaux hopes to follow in the footsteps of his illustrious father and Vijender would need to do something special to halt the Cuban in his strides.
"I have not played him earlier but watching recordings of his bout to get a fair idea about him. He is a tough customer but I'm no novice either and you can be sure that we would not be treating each other with kid gloves," Vijender predicted.
"Winning a medal has been a dream-come-true and I'm not in a hurry to return," quipped the Indian.
Coach G S Sandhu refused to predict the outcome of Friday's bout and said anything can happen.
"All we can say is that we have done our home work well. We have studied the Cuban and formulated a strategy. But plans alone won't win you bouts, it all depends on how you react in the ring.
"No doubt Vijender has got a tough opponent to tackle but then he is also in good form. We're keeping our fingers crossed," Sandhu said.
