Young Indian boxer Vijender Singh (75 kg) is now just a win away from clinching an entry into the London Olympics. On Friday, the Beijing Olympic bronze medallist overran Syria's former world No 1 Ishak Waez in Asian Olympic Qualifying event in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Waez threw a few stunting punches that baffled Singh for a while during pre-quarterfinals opening round. However, after receiving a bout of sharp and quick jabs from Syrian rival, the Indian began to hold his ground by limiting opponent's game. Vijender defeated Waez 5:1 in the first round.
Starting round 2 with aggressive power-packed punches, the Indian made his rival inside the ring to suffocate and won the round 4:2. Thus Vijender Singh cemented his position as frontrunner for representing boxing India in London Olympics.
Vijender Singh can celebrate all his wins only after overcoming the quarterfinals of Olympic qualifier, which is scheduled to be held on Sunday.
Vijender Sunday will hook up with Mongolia's Chuluuntumur Tumurkhyag a 2011 Asian Championship silver medallist.
Meanwhile, Manpreet (91 kg), another face of Indian boxing in heavyweight category, has also entered the quarterfinals after defeating his rival from Mongolia.
Manpreet just took 1 minute 46 second to knockdown Mongolia's Toulyek Yerbolat. However, he will have to get past Borbashev Chingis of Kyrgyzstan Sunday to secure a berth in London Olympics.
"I'm one hundred percent sure it will be better than Beijing. Sumit (Sangwan), Vikas (Krishan Yadav) and Devendro (Singh)... they all are medal prospects. These are the best crop we have and I know we'll do well in London," Singh said before his departure to Kazakhstan for Olympic qualifier.
Singh had become the first real celebrity from boxing sport in India after winning a bronze in Beijing. He said, "Beijing win has encouraged many sponsors to come forward and money started coming in." Thus, winning more medals will help in making things even better, he expressed.
