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‘I all the time struggle prefer it’s my first struggle. Once I begin coaching I am identical to a clean slate, I study every little thing once more.’
IMAGE: As he gears up for his subsequent struggle in opposition to the reigning nationwide West Africa Boxing Union champion, Ghana’s Eliasu Sulley on August 17, Vijender Singh’s mantra is easy: take away all ideas of the earlier bouts. {Photograph}: Vijender Singh/Instagram
India’s star boxer Vijender Singh doesn’t need to carry the luggage of final 12 months’s maiden defeat on the skilled circuit as he returns to the ring, saying: “I all the time struggle prefer it’s my first.”
Since turning professional in 2015, Vijender was unbeaten until final March with an enviable 12-0 document, together with eight knockouts.
However that modified in March final 12 months, when his successful run was delivered to an unceremonious finish by Russia’s Artysh Lopsan by way of a technical knockout in Goa.
“Report toh bante hello tutne ke liye hain. (Information are supposed to be damaged) It’s all a part of the sport,” an upbeat Vijender mentioned.
As he gears up for his subsequent struggle in opposition to the reigning nationwide West Africa Boxing Union champion, Ghana’s Eliasu Sulley on August 17, Vijender’s mantra is easy: take away all ideas of the earlier bouts.
“I all the time struggle prefer it’s my first struggle. Once I begin coaching I am identical to a clean slate, I study every little thing once more. I take heed to what my coaches inform me and begin over,” the 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medallist mentioned.
Pissed off by the dearth of competitors and COVID-19 restrictions, Vijender had organized the bout with Lopsan. Preventing for the primary time in 16 months, he needed to do with out his staff which included coach Lee Beard.
The British boxing coach, who has skilled skilled stars like Ricky Hatton, has been guiding Vijender because the begin of his skilled profession. Beneath his tutelage, the Haryana lad clinched the WBO Asia Pacific and Oriental tremendous middle-weight titles.
Nevertheless, Lee couldn’t journey to India due to the COVID-19 restrictions.
Vijender, who delivered India’s first Olympic and males’s world championship medals in boxing again in 2008 and 2009, on reflection, feels preventing with out his staff was an enormous danger, one which price him expensive.
“I learnt an vital lesson from that bout. In future, if any person asks me for recommendation, I am going to will inform them ‘professional boxing is a critical enterprise, do not ever go (to a struggle) with out your staff. In case you are completely positive then solely go, in any other case do not take the danger’.'”
The 36-year-old was appalled by his personal efficiency the place after a minute and 9 seconds into the fifth spherical, the referee had declared him the loser.
“By no means, I used to be very assured then (earlier than the struggle). However after I noticed my bout, I used to be shocked by my efficiency. I felt ‘how did I do this? That isn’t Vijender Singh’.”
All that’s prior to now now for the strapping six-footer, who appears poised to get his thirteenth win.
“Sure, stress is there (to not slip to a different loss) however I am assured as a result of I’ve my staff round me.
“We now have completed loads of sparring in UK and been by way of powerful periods and coaching. This time, I do not suppose there shall be any kind of drawback or issue and if there’s a drawback my staff is there to unravel it.”
Sulley boasts of a glowing 100 per cent knockout document within the eight bouts that he has competed in however the 2010 Asian Video games gold medallist Indian is up for the problem.
“We now have a plan in opposition to him. We now have the technique to counter him. We now have analysed his fights, mentioned what might be completed. We are going to take him no drawback,” mentioned Vijender, oozing confidence.
A sporting icon, at any time when Vijender interacts with younger and upcoming boxers in India, one is assured to listen to “Vijender bhaiya impressed us.”
“Each time boxers ask for recommendation I inform them ‘no matter probability you get, seize it. There is just one life, there shouldn’t be remorse’. In my life I’ve completed every little thing whether or not it’s politics, television, film and so forth.”
So, will Vijender contest elections a second time?
“Why not, I by no means stop. There is a saying Jab tak jeetega nahi, tab tak chodega nahi. (Maintain attempting till you win) So, I will be doing that as effectively sooner or later,” mentioned Vijender, who had misplaced the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from South Delhi whereas contesting on a Congress ticket.
In a bid to take professional boxing to every nook of the nation, Vijender shall be preventing his subsequent bout on the Balbir Singh Juneja Stadium in Raipur, which shall be telecast on Sports activities 18 Khel and Voot on August 17 at 8.30pm IST.
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