Gold Coast show to boost Indian boxers
CHARGED UP Eyeing a record third Asian Games medal, boxer Vikas Krishan says momentum gained in CWG will power India
As an 18-year-old, Vikas Krishan (60kg) became the youngest Indian boxer to clinch gold in the Asian Games in Guangzhou 2010. In the next edition, he won bronze in 75kg and is the fifth Indian boxer – after Hawa Singh (2 gold), Vijender Singh (1 gold, 1 bronze), Muluk Singh (2 bronze) and MC Mary Kom (1 gold, 1 bronze) — to have won two medals in the continental games. In Jakarta, the Haryana Police boxer will be eyeing un unprecedented third successive medal.
“Gold Coast (Vikas won gold in 75 kg) set the momentum for Jakarta, and Jakarta will set the rhythm for 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” said Vikas.
Till date India’s best performance in the Asian Games was in 2010 when 13 boxers (10 men and three women) won nine medals, including two gold and three silver. In 2014 Games, Indian men could only won two bronze, while women contributed three medals (one gold and two bronze).
Double Olympian Manoj Kumar, 31, the oldest boxer in the 10-member squad, is looking to end his Asian Games medal drought in Jakarta. “I know age is not on my side, but it has given me immense experience, which is a great advantage for me,” said Manoj.
In Jakarta three heavyweight categories (81kg, 91kg and +91kg) have been dropped and that could go against India. Out of 54 medals Indian boxers have won in the Games, 18 have come in three upper weight categories. “Indians have won more medals in the heavy weights, but our middleweight and below are also doing well. Indian men have won four world championship medals in the existing weights,” said Manoj.
Indian boxers had a great outing in Gold Coast but the Asian Games will be tougher. In Rio, 18 out of 52 boxing events were won by Asian countries while Commonwealth nations won only three.
ARMY BOXERS RULE
Out of seven boxers in the men’s squad, four — Amit Panghal, Gaurav Solanki, Mohammed Hussamuddin and Dheeraj Rangi — are from the Army and products of the Pune Army Sports Institute. Before moving out, Shiva Thapa and Vikas Krishan were also trainees of ASI.
“The discipline in army is the main force behind our boxers making it big. We are reaping the harvest of the ‘Mission Olympics’ programme stared by Army in 2004,” said Subedar Major Narender Rana, who is the in charge of boxing in ASI Pune. “We have big hopes from Gaurav, who won gold in the CWG. The competition in Asian Games especially in the lower weight categories is tough as you will find the maximum number of Olympic medals from the Asian continent from these weight sections,” added Rana.
In the absence of Mary Kom, world championship medallist Sonia Lather (57 kg) will be leading the women’s campaign in Jakarta. In Asian Games there are only three weight categories in the women section, and all three — Sarjubala Devi (51kg), Lather and Pavitra (60kg) — will be making their debut in the Asian Games. In Gold Coast, only Mary Kom made it to the podium among women, but in the Asian Games, Indian women have a better record. Indian women will face main challenge from China, Kazakhstan and the Korean boxers.