Vijender, the glamboy of Indian boxing (Profile)
August 20th, 2008 - 11:36 pm ICT by IANS ( 1 comment )New Delhi, Aug 20 (IANS) His drop-dead looks and chiselled jaws could give country’s Bollywood stars and models a run for their money. But what Vijender Kumar knows best is to punch his opponents in the boxing ring as he showed in Beijing Wednesday becoming the first Indian pugilsit to reach the Olympic semifinal.The strapping 23-year-old Vijender is part of Bhiwani’s boxing brigade, three of whom have done the country proud by making it to the quarterfinals of the Olympics. Vijender, though, made sure of at least a bronze medal after the disappointing loss of his stable-mates Akhil Kumar and Jitender Kumar.
Boxing came naturally to Vijender as he picked up the sport inspired by his brother Manoj, a national champion.
Born in Kaluwas village in Bhiwani, Haryana, Vijender started to train at Bhiwani’s Sports Authority of India (SAI)centre where coach Jagdish Singh honed his in-born talent.
His father Mahipal Singh is in a government job and his mother is a housewife. Vijender did his primary schooling from his village, secondary school from Bhiwani and finally a bachelor’s degree from Vaish College.
Vijender won silver medal in his first sub-junior nationals and then finished the second sub-junior in the same position. He graduated to the junior national competitions steadily and was picked to visit several countries like Cuba for further training and competitions.
At the 2004 Athens Olympics, Vijender contested in the welterweight division, but lost to Mustafa Karagollu of Turkey.
At the 2006 Commonwealth Games, he defeated England’s Neil Perkins in the semis but lost to South Africa’s Bongani Mwelase, who went on to win the gold.
He then won silver at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games 2006.
He went up a division and competed in the Middleweight (75 kg) division at the 2006 Asian Games winning the bronze medal in a lost semifinal bout against Kazakhstan’s Bakhtiyar Artayev 24-29.
Vijender then qualified for Beijing with a bang, winning gold at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Kazakhstan.
- Asian Games boxing: Vijender wins gold, India finish with nine medals (Seond Lead) - Nov 26, 2010
- World Boxing meet: Vikas lone Indian to reach semis - Oct 06, 2011
- Akhil, Vijender to lead charge in World Boxing Championship - Aug 18, 2011
- Naveen in final of world junior boxing championships - Jul 29, 2011
- Asian Games boxing: Five Indians stay in gold hunt; bronze for four - Nov 24, 2010
- Vijender knocked out of World Boxing Championships - Oct 01, 2011
- Six Indian boxers assured of bronze at Cuban event - Jun 05, 2011
- Indian boxers aiming for gold in London Olympics - Jan 20, 2012
- Asian Games: Four golds take India's tally to 14 (Roundup) - Nov 26, 2010
- World Boxing Championships: Krishan settles for bronze - Oct 08, 2011
- Only an Asian Games gold will erase CWG memories: Vijender - Oct 18, 2010
- Santosh, Jitender win bronze in Kazakh boxing meet - May 14, 2011
- Vijender in semifinals of Arafura Games - May 10, 2011
- Asian Games boxing: Vijender and Suranjoy in semis; Amandeep in quarters - Nov 20, 2010
- India's Asiad tally at 46, five boxers in gold hunt (Roundup) - Nov 24, 2010
Tags: 2004 athens olympics, 2006 commonwealth games, bollywood stars, commonwealth games 2006, jagdish singh, jitender kumar, junior nationals, melbourne commonwealth games, melbourne commonwealth games 2006, stable mates, Vijender Kumar
November 23rd, 2008 at 8:56 pm
viju is example of will power, he lost in 2 olympic selections then 3rd he selected for beijing and the who he lost in before tournaments Thailand boxer, In olympics he beat that same boxer out standingly. NOw he HERO of indian boxing, As a world bronze medalist in boxing i am very happy to see my boxer got so much attention to public and media. Thank you very much.
v.Devarajan chennai