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New Delhi, June 23
His was the Olympic medal that set the ball rolling for Indian boxing’s ascension to world-beating requirements.
Vijender Singh, nonetheless, has moved on from that life-changing bronze 13 summers in the past in Beijing as a result of “that’s what mature individuals do”.
“That’s progress, if you shed one id and embrace new issues, perceive issues which didn’t matter in some unspecified time in the future. It comes with time and accountability,” the middleweight boxer advised PTI in an unique chat.
“Life is a brand new lesson daily.”
However with one month to go for the Tokyo Olympics and because the world celebrates Olympic Day, one can’t assist make a journey down reminiscence lane to relive one of the vital iconic moments in Indian sports activities—the nation’s first Olympic medal in boxing.
“These had been golden days, we had been carefree, with out obligations. Our coaching, weight-reduction plan and some mates had been all that mattered,” the 35-year-old, who’s a three-time Olympian, stated as he recalled the build-up to the Video games in Beijing.
He made it to the massive occasion in what was the final qualifying occasion after two failed makes an attempt.
In Beijing, he was the lone boxing medal hope left when the extra skilled Akhil Kumar misplaced within the quarterfinals, a shocker of a end result contemplating that he had crushed the world champion—Sergey Vodopyanov—within the earlier spherical.
Shouldering unprecedented expectations, Vijender saved his calm to get the higher of Ecuador’s Carlos Gongora in his quarterfinal bout and historical past was created.
It meant the world to him at the moment however over a decade later, he wouldn’t even write Olympian in his social media bios, one thing that the majority different present or former athletes do.
“I had Olympics, I gave my greatest in Beijing, happily it translated right into a bronze medal. Alongside the best way, it helped Indian boxing, good for everybody I say.
“However I’ve tried a number of issues after that. I received married, had youngsters, turned skilled, received into politics too. So, I don’t see the purpose of trying again,” he defined.
“Ek purani kahawat hai hamare yahan, agar girna bhi ho to aage ko giro, peeche ko nahin. Peeche jaake ya peeche gir ke kya fayda (There’s an outdated saying our facet. Even when you fall, fall ahead, not backwards),” he laughed as he tried to place issues in perspective.
On to trying forward then, how does he view the medal possibilities of the unprecedented 9 Indian boxers who’ve certified for the Video games this time?
“Actually robust. I don’t observe newbie boxing very intently as a result of I’m occupied elsewhere too however from no matter I’ve seen, heard and skim, they give the impression of being good to win a couple of medal,” Vijender stated.
“Amit (Panghal) is in great kind, Vikas (Krishan) appears robust and clearly you could have Mary Kom. It’s a really achieved line-up and I hope to catch some motion if not observe their progress utterly in Tokyo.
“Additionally among the many girls, Simranjit Kaur is there. It’s good to see so many younger faces going to their maiden Olympics. I’m positive it will be a life-changing expertise for them,” added the star, who contested and misplaced the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from South Delhi on a Congress ticket.
That heartbreak however, Vijender stated he gained’t surrender on politics.
“It’s not about successful or dropping elections, it’s about convictions. I’ve mine, many others have theirs and it’s by no means a foul factor to stay to these convictions. So, I might be round and do my greatest,” he stated.
With Covid-19 casting a shadow on nearly every little thing that was as soon as regular on the earth, Vijender’s skilled profession can also be on maintain for now though he does hope to combat at the least as soon as later this yr.
“The state of affairs is such that I don’t really feel snug travelling proper now. I’m blissful to be daddy to my sons, it’s priceless time,” he stated.
However as soon as the world returns to normalcy, Vijender has a dream that he hopes to perform sometime.
“I wish to climb Mount Everest sometime. It’s a dream and I haven’t performed something to get began on it simply but however I hope sometime I can. That may be some achievement, isn’t it?” he signed off. PTI
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