Tokyo Olympics: Decorated boxer Vikas Krishan Yadav seeks missing Olympic medal | Tokyo Olympics News

NEW DELHI: “I’m not simply focusing on an Olympic medal. Meri nazar Olympic gold par hai (I’m focusing on Olympic gold),” boxer Vikas Krishan Yadav informed TOI throughout an interplay simply earlier than leaving for Assisi, Italy for a pre-Olympics coaching camp.
Vikas shouldn’t be being brash or cocky. The 29-year-old is a primary medal contender for India, and the Tokyo Games might be his third consecutive Olympics. He might be competing within the 69kg class.
In London in addition to Rio, nonetheless, Vikas fell brief and couldn’t return with a medal. In 2012, a 20-year-old Vikas had gained his preliminary bout in opposition to USA’s Errol Spence, solely to see the outcome being overturned in just a few hours. 4 years later in Rio, he fell one step away from successful a medal, shedding within the quarterfinal.

This time he has unfinished enterprise to take care of. “That is my final Olympics. I’ve nothing to lose. I’ll punch them arduous this time, my opponents will really feel it. I got here shut (in 2012 and 2016), however what to do? Possibly God needed me to attend a bit longer,” stated Vikas.
“There’s a clean in my profession and I need to fill it with an Olympic medal. That’s the one factor lacking,” he provides. “I’m going to point out the world how boxing is an artwork.”
Krishan is a three-time Asian Video games medallist, having gained gold in 2010 and bronze in 2014 and 2018. The 29-year-old has additionally bagged three Asian Championship medals, together with one silver (2015) and two bronze medals (2017 and 2021). There’s a World Championships bronze (2011) too in his trophy cupboard. He additionally gained gold on the 2018 Commonwealth Video games.
In November 2018, Vikas had turned professional, solely to return to the newbie fold a 12 months later with the aim to win a medal in Tokyo. In truth, he fought two professional boxing bouts in the USA and managed to stay undefeated in them. The second bout was on the iconic Madison Sq. Backyard.
For the reason that time he has come again to India, Vikas has hardly frolicked along with his spouse and youngsters, who’re in Hisar, Haryana. All his energies have been channelised in direction of his coaching. “These (not spending time at residence) are small sacrifices one has to make,” says Vikas. “There’s a bigger image and that’s to win an Olympic medal.”
The world of professional boxing is minimize throat. One has to struggle 12 rounds and the punches are arduous. Vikas believes his expertise within the professional circuit will maintain him in good stead on the Olympics. “I’ve fought with actually robust boxers (within the skilled circuit). I’ve gained in opposition to them. I’ve battled for 10 rounds, 12 rounds and that has elevated my will to win.
“My stamina and endurance degree has elevated by leaps and bounds. Health sensible, I’m in one of the best situation of my life. My punches are simpler, faster and carry extra weight and energy. Fights in professional boxing are a lot more durable and in addition very dangerous. By dangerous, I imply there’s danger to life. The gloves that boxers use in skilled boxing are very small and the padding is minimal. It’s basically like a bare-handed road struggle that has guidelines. There are occasions if you find yourself on the receiving finish of a tough punch, you get completely dazed.”
Vikas claims that everybody will get to see an up to date model of him in Tokyo. It will likely be Vikas 2.0. What’s going to be the distinction then?
“My coaching throughout my days in professional boxing was so robust that it has made me rather a lot stronger. In skilled boxing, it’s a must to harm your opponent, solely then he’s going to cease. I can guarantee you that within the 69kg class there are only a few to match my energy. If I hit a strong punch, it’ll be vastly detrimental for my opponent. My velocity and motion contained in the ring has additionally elevated significantly.
“I’ve additionally strengthened my defence. Earlier, I simply used to dam my opponent’s punches. Now I can flip and herald different defensive maneuvers. The onlooker is having fun with watching my bout. Mai bachaunga aur phir maarunga (I’ll first defend after which I’ll go for the kill).”
Giving an attention-grabbing anecdote about his “now elevated energy”, Vikas stated, “Through the Olympic qualifiers in Amman (Jordan), I used to pad with the coaches earlier than going for any bout or throughout my observe sparring periods. Santiago (Nieva), our director, used to ice his arms within the evening. He informed me ‘I can deal with the punches of others, however yours may be very highly effective’. Kuttappa coach (males’s head coach), who frequently spars with me, stated to me ‘your punches are going to harm individuals and so they gained’t be capable to stand up once more’.”