Vijender recalls good old Jaipur days ahead of fight
When Vijender Singh, India’s only boxer to win an Olympic medal, defends his WBO Oriental and Asia Pacific title against Ernest Amuzu in Jaipur on December 23, it will be a sort of homecoming for him.
Just like former India skipper MS Dhoni, who spent his early days of struggle checking tickets at the Kharagpur railway station, Vijender too began his career checking tickets as senior ticket collector at Jaipur in 2005.
“Jaipur has a special place in my life. I got my first job here only, with the Railways, and it supported me financially during my initial days in international circuit. So, I always wanted to have one of my professional bouts in Jaipur,” said Vijender, who was last seen in action in August when he defeated China’s top boxer Zulpikar Maimaitiali to claim the WBO Oriental title.
“Whenever we were off from the national camps, we had to join our duty and Jaipur used to be my destination. I still recall the days when I used to work as a ticket collector on the platforms of Jaipur station and the evenings were spent with my colleagues.
“I underwent one-and-a-half months of training (for ticket collector’s job) at Udaipur and many of my batch-mates are still posted in Jaipur. So, I am the same Vijender for them and they will all be coming out to support me at the December 23 fight,” says Vijender, who will be fighting his 10th professional bout.
“Before the 2008 Beijing Olympic medal, my biggest medals came at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. Both came while I was working with the Railways. I always used to get a warm welcome from my colleagues whenever I returned after winning a medal.”
In 2007, Vijender joined Haryana police as inspector under sports quota and after becoming the first Indian boxer to win an Olympic medal, he was promoted to Deputy Superintendent of Police. “Though I was coming to Jaipur regularly between 2005 and 2007, I never got a chance to box in the city. Later I came, but only as a chief guest. So, it will be the first time I will be fighting in Jaipur. I hope to make Jaipur more memorable with defending the titles,” says Vijender.