Indian boxers — A force to reckon with since Beijing Olympics

Indian boxing has grown by leaps and bounds, riding on the success wave attained in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics.

Since then, boxers have never looked back, punching their way to glory in most of the competitions they have participated. No longer are they treated as rank outsiders by powerhouses like Cuba, Russia and other European nations, they showed they belonged to the ring.

Ten of the finest pugilists from the country will embark on another journey to showcase their craft to the world and the progress they have made when the World Championships kick-off in Baku, Azerbaijan from September 26. Their sole aim, besides winning a medal, will be to seal an Olympic berth.
Leading the charge, like he did in Beijing, will be the poster boy of Indian boxing, Vijender Singh, competing in the middleweight category. Then there is bantamweight Akhil Kumar, who mesmerised one and all with his unique style of boxing on his way to a quarterfinal appearance in Beijing. Since then, injury to his right wrist meant he hasn’t been in the best of shape for the last couple of years.

Flyweight boxer Suranjoy Singh is a pocket-sized dynamo, capable of demolishing his opponent on any given day. He has backed his promise with medals, winning gold at 2010 Commonwealth Championship, Commonwealth Games and a bronze at Asian Games.

Nineteen-year-old welterweight pugilist, Vikas Krishan, returns to the city where he first shot to fame, winning gold in the Youth World Championship in 2010. He has made rapid strides, which culminated in gold at the 2010 Asian Games, his first-ever medal in seniors at international level.

Light heavyweight Dinesh Kumar, the only one along with Vijender Singh to make it to the quarterfinals at the 2009 Milan championship, has been consistent throughout. He won gold at Commonwealth Championship and silver at Asian Games last year.

Others, Jai Bhagwan (lightweight), Manoj Kumar (light welterweight), Manpreet Singh (heavyweight) and Paramjeet Samota (super heavyweight) have won a medal or two at the international level.

The least experienced in the squad is 19-year-old Devendro Singh (light flyweight), for whom the Baku outing is the biggest assignment so far. Experts are already touting him as the ‘next big thing’. During selections trials in August, he defeated Asian Championships silver medallist Amandeep Singh and former Youth world champion Nanao Singh to make the squad.

The contingent is busy honing their skills at a training camp in Bugeat, France, under the guidance of national coach GS Sandhu and Cuban BI Fernandes, who has played a major role in boxers’ climb towards glory.

Unfortunately, Vijender and Dinesh are not with the team due to the failure of the Indian Boxing Federation to procure the Schengen visa in time. Instead, they will be training at the Bhiwani Boxing Club. Both were in New York for the World Police Games last month when the visa applications were processed for the trip to Bugeat. As they returned home only in the last week of August, the duo’s applications were delayed, which prevented them from travelling with the rest of the team members who left on September 10.

“It would have been nice if I could have trained with the squad in France. It would have boosted my confidence. I’m missing the team. But I’m not letting it affect me as the World Championships are round the corner,” Vijender, who won gold at Police Games, told DNA.

The 25-year-old, who won India’s first-ever medal at 2009 Worlds in Milan, hopes he can go a step further and give a perfect reply to his detractors, who have criticised him for not concentrating on his career.

“After I won bronze in Beijing, they said the same thing. After I won bronze in Milan, the same was repeated. And same was the case after I won gold at 2010 Asian Games. Those things don’t bother me now. My focus will solely be on how to better my performance. I’m always confident of winning a medal and this time as well I will come back with one. Hopefully, go one step better,” said Vijender.

“I’m injury free, in form and will give my 100 per cent. I think this is the strongest squad we will be sending to the World Championships,” he said.

The story of Akhil is in contrast to that of Vijender. The oldest member of the Indian squad, at 30, has been left thinking ‘what it could have been’ ever since he missed an opportunity to ensure at least a bronze at Beijing. He did win a lot of hearts for sure, but a medal would have changed the whole scenario for him. The next couple of years present him the best opportunity for winning a medal on world stage as in amateur boxing you are not allowed to compete beyond the age of 34.

“Picture abhi baki hai mere dost. I may better my best here and win a medal for my motherland. I’m in good shape and injury is no more a worry,” said Akhil.

The World Championships will be the first big event to be held under the new rules wherein the competitors will not know the score till the end of the round. International Boxing Association did it to bring in a level of uncertainty to the sport. They wanted boxers to box and not run away from their opponents once they take the lead.

“Boxing was turned from being an art to statistics. Many-a-time a boxer would avoid action once he is in lead. So, the world body started looking at the scoring system. They realised they have robbed boxing of its old glory, its grace. So, the decision was taken to change the system,” said Jay Kowli, India’s only three-star referee-judge.

“Earlier, the results used to be surprising. The crowds used to watch boxing but they would never judge the bouts. On many occasions, they would go back dejected as they never got to see any art because boxers slowly changed their tactics, coaches their methodology as everything centralised around scoring a blow,” he added.

The new rules have left the boxers and coaches bamboozled and they have to devise a new strategy to counter the system.     
“It hasn’t led to any strategic changes to my style of boxing. My aim is to always score points and that’s what I will continue to do. The aim will be to land as many punches as possible and score as many points. But yes, it will be at the back of my mind that I have to keep landing blows and keep my score ticking,” said Vijender on how will he approach the new system.

“We’ll see how it goes under the format. I’ve competed in just a couple of competitions under it. Same will be the case for the rest of the boxers. For a long time, we’ve been competing under the old scoring system but suddenly we’ve to get used to the new one. It’s going to be interesting,” he added.

Akhil, though, is excited and feels it will suit his attacking style. “You can say that I have killer instinct. I do box aggressively but my mind remains cool as far as strategising is concerned. I use body blows along with the short and medium range punches, including hooks and uppercuts at body as well as face. So, I think the new scoring system well be beneficial to my style,” said Akhil, who is currently in France.

He added that not knowing the score when the round is on doesn’t matter. “When I’m inside the ring, I can keep a count of punches I have landed and the punches, which I have received.”