Odds stacked against India
Indian boxing body’s ban has led to fewer qualifying; in Rio, professionals can make life tougher
After Vijender Singh won a bronze medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, boxing became one of India’s best medal bets in the Olympics. Eight boxers, including a woman, made it to the 2012 London Olympics, the most to ever qualify for the Games. Three made it to the quarterfinals and Mary Kom became the nation’s first woman boxer to win an Olympic medal when she claimed a bronze.
But post-London things didn’t go well with Indian boxing. The disqualification of the national federation by AIBA, the world body, left Indian boxing facing an uncertain future. That resulted in fewer foreign exposure trips for the boxers. With the federation disqualified, many countries didn’t accept India’s request to train with their boxers. Foreign training was a major reason for India’s growth after Beijing. They went on to become Asia’s best country in the 2010 Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
STEADY DECLINE
But the next two years saw a decline in the boxing graph. From seven medals, including two gold and three silver, in the men’s section at the 2010 Asian Games, it came down to just two bronze (men’s section) in the 2014 Asian Games.
The situation with the federation was also responsible for no senior nationals being held for two years because of which there was no new entrant in the national camp, restricting competition. These have all led to fewer boxers qualifying for Rio.
The only boxers to qualify for Rio are Shiva Thapa (56kg) Manoj Kumar (64kg) and Vikas Krishan (75kg). Vikas and Manoj went through in the final qualification event and Thapa in the penultimate opportunity at the continental championships in April.
“Because of late qualification, there was pressure on our boxers. But it existed only till the time they had not made the Rio cut. For the last couple of months their training has been going as per schedule. We’re quite optimistic,” said chief national coach, GS Sandhu.
NO EXTRA PRESSURE
Does the diminished chance of winning a medal in Rio put extra pressure on the boxers? “It (fewer boxers) is only relevant when we talk about our overall medal prospects. If we discuss individuals rather than number, it has no impact on medals. It only depends on the credentials of the boxer. All three are seasoned boxers and are capable of winning a medal,” said Sandhu. “
Vikas, Manoj and Shiva will be competing in their second Olympics. As they already have Olympic exposure, it will be an added advantage when they enter the ring in Rio.
“Most of the Indian boxers have given their best results in their second Olympics. Vijender won a medal in his second Games. Sydney Games quarterfinalist Gurcharan Singh --- he missed a lightheavy bronze on the countback after his quarterfinal was tied on points --- gave his best in his second Olympics, the same was the case with Akhil Kumar, who reached the quarterfinal in Beijing, 2008. So, I am hoping they too (Rio-bound boxers) will give their best this time,” said Sandhu.
Vikas and Manoj don’t have great memories of London and will be all out to make up for their 2012 loss. And it will give them a physiological edge.
In London, Vikas was declared winner against Errol Spence of the US to make it to the quarters. There was celebration in the Indian camp. But a few hours later, following a protest by the American’s camp, the competition jury overturned the initial decision, awarding the bout to Spence 15-13.
Manoj, on the other hand, lashed out at the judges after his bout was awarded to a local opponent. Manoj claimed he was the clear winner, but the judges didn’t give points for his punches, leading to his defeat.
“London was heartbreaking for me as I was pretty sure of victory. But for me that is in the past. I have to make up for the London loss in Rio,” said Manoj Kumar, who recently had a training stint at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield. The Rio-bound British team was also training there.
PROFESSIONAL EQUATIONS
Shiva Thapa is ranked sixth in the world and that should give him a seeding advantage in Rio. But things might not go in his favour, and the AIBA’s ranking committee might make some alterations after including boxers from the World Series of Boxing and AIBA Pro Boxing.
“This happened during the world championships too. We were expecting that the seeding would be done as per the current world ranking and we would get the advantage. But later we were informed that the AIBA ranking committee changed it by including WSB and APB boxers. So, let us see,” said Sandhu.
In a move to promote professional boxing, AIBA has given preference to WSB and ABP boxers while giving quota places for Rio. During the London Olympics, majority of the medalists were from WSB, and this time too it is expected that the boxers from the professional arena might get an upper hand.
“Because of the entry of professional boxers, the field in Rio will be totally different. Keeping that in mind, I went to Venezuela, where the qualification tournament for professional boxers was held, for training. There I had sessions with four-five professional boxers,” said Vikas Krishan, who is currently training in NIS Patiala. “My training is going as per schedule and for sure I will return home with a medal,” added Vikas, who won a world championship bronze in 2011 and a medal in the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games.