India could not win any gold medal in the recently concluded Asian Boxing Championships in Bangkok. Though Vikas Krishan did come very close to winning the elusive yellow medal, he faltered in the middleweight (75kg) category finals against Uzbekistan's Bektemir Melikuziev 0-2 to take home a silver medal.
Krishan had been in sublime form throughout the competition and he did give his best in the final encounter, where he received some big blows from the Uzbek boxer. The Indian also delivered some strong shots, but those were not enough.
One has to concede that Krishan's opponent started the match in a good manner. Krishnan also felt that his slow start must have cost him the first round. The score read 27-30 against Krishnan in the first round.
"He began really fast and in very aggressive fashion. I just took a little time to settle in but I think I conceded a few points then. I found my rhythm and I attacked him well at the end of the round but I guess that wasn't enough," IANS quoted Krishnan.
Hence, there was a serious need for Krishnan to step up his game in the second round, which he did as he won it 29-28, but the Uzbek boxer, who came back strong to win the third round to clinch gold, showed some fine offensive punches in the final moments of the third round.
"It was a good tough bout. I think I did well to come back into the fight with a strong second round. In the third round, both of us were going hard. I landed some clear punches but perhaps I should have been more tighter in the closing stages," he said.
However, Indians can head back to their homeland with their heads held high after an inspiring performance in the competition, where six boxers have booked berths for the World Championships. It thus provides the Indian boxers a chance to book the Rio Olympics qualification as well.
National coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu was happy with the team.
"I am extremely happy with the performance because six boxers have made the World Championships cut but a gold medal would have been even better. Vikas performed exceptionally well and it's quite disappointing that he could not win," PTI quoted Gurbax.
