Asian Games 2010
India stood second in the overall medals tally in the recently held Commonwealth Games. Many of these medals were won in physical sports like boxing and wrestling. Boxing especially, after Vijender Singh’s bronze medal success in Beijing Olympics, has improved to a great extent as the 10 man boxing squad won 7 medals including 3 gold’s that made the nation proud in the Delhi games.
It was a brilliant display of courage and grit by the Indian boxers who could handle a great amount of pressure due to the odds stacked against them. They lived up to the challenge in Delhi but, the real test is yet to come at the Asian Games in Guangzhou. The performance at the continental championships will surely show how good Indian boxers really are. This time the Indian boxers won’t have home advantage and support which will require nerves of steel to handle pressure.
“The level of competition at the Commonwealth Games was good but at the Asian games it is going to be much higher. We will surely improve upon the last editions performance of two bronze medals, but matching the Commonwealth Games tally would be difficult,” said national coach, G.S. Sandhu. “If all goes well, we should win three medals. And if we are able to bag 4-5 medals, it will be an excellent performance,” Sandhu added. When asked about preparations he said, “Whatever time we got, we have utilised it properly and hopefully everyone will give off their best.”
India won its last gold medal in boxing in 1998 when Dingko Singh won the final in Bantamweight category. This time all eyes will be on Vijender Singh for a gold medal. The Olympic bronze medallist lost in a controversial semi-final bout at the Delhi Games, he was furious on the loss and has vowed to come up with a great performance in the Asiad.
Of the seven medallists from the Commonwealth Games, Jai Bhagwan who won Bronze medal in 60kg category and Manoj Kumar- winner of 64kg category gold are not participating in the Asiad as the team for the Asian games was selected before their notable performances in Delhi. National champion Santosh Kumar has replaced Manoj in 64kg and Youth Olympic Silver medallist Vikas Krishnan comes in place of Jai Bhagwan. The ten man Indian boxing team comprisises, Amandeep Singh(49kg), Suranjoy Singh(52kg), Chotelal Yadav(56Kg), Vikas Krishnan(60kg), Santosh Kumar(64kg), Dilbag Singh(69kg), Vijender Singh(75kg), Dinesh Kumar(81kg), Manpreet Singh(91kg), Paramjeet Samota(+91kg).
Tags: Asian Games 2010, China, Commonwealth Games, Guangzhou, India, Indian Sports, Sports, Sports India
