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Vijender has to be content with bronze

Kamesh Srinivasan

Emilio Correa’s intelligence and lightning quick left proves too much for the Indian pugilist

BEIJING: Indian boxer Vijender Kumar Singh met his match on Friday and had to be content with the bronze medal.

The favourite for the gold medal in the middleweight category, Emilio Correa of Cuba, proved a superior opponent in the semifinals at the Workers’ Gymnasium and rarely gave room to the Indian boxer to get into the bout.

What distinguished the Cuban was his intelligence and lightning quick left that brooked little resistance from Vijender’s feeble defence.

Being the son of a boxer, Emilio Correa Vaillant, who had won the gold in the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Correa showed the acumen to change his strategy against Vijender who had made it a point to study the video tapes of the opponent in framing his own strategy.

Change in strategy

“I fought him once in Bulgaria and I won. So, this time I had to change my tactics because he already knows me. I had to surprise him,” said the Cuban after winning the bout 8-5.

The key to the contest, irrespective of the pedigree and the relative ability of the boxers, was to get off to a good start and keep the momentum going.

The Cuban succeeded in this aspect, as he opened the scoring with an attacking approach and put his sharp left to good use, to take a 2-0 lead in the first round.

The 22-year-old Vijender had to quickly drop his vigilant attitude and get on with the scoring, which he did in the second round.

The Asian Games bronze medallist countered his talented opponent with his right and took the points position to 3-4 by the end of the round.

The Cuban was better organised in the third round and gained valuable points that made the difference eventually. He came up with combination punches to startle the Indian for a 6-3 lead.

It was here that luck played its part. After the gong had been sounded, to signal the end of the round, the Cuban landed a punch with his right and it was recorded as a point by the judges.

Decisive points

That margin of four points proved decisive, as the ‘warning’ for the Cuban by the referee for an open glove punch with 40 seconds left on the clock for the finish, that fetched two points for the Indian, proved inadequate to tilt the balance.

Though Vijender tried hard to score, the Cuban’s solid defence saw him through.

“I tried to do my best in the second round, but my opponent was good. He was using his left which was his strongest point.

When you are trailing with a difference of two points, it is very difficult to catch up against such a quality opponent. It was his day. I am disappointed not to reach the final,” said Vijender.

Coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu conceded the Cuban’s supremacy and said the Indian boxing fraternity was happy to break the jinx and win an Olympic medal.

“I am happy that we have a breakthrough. We finally have won an Olympic medal in boxing for India. Our three boxers reached the quarterfinals for the first time. We have shown that we are something in international boxing,” said Sandhu.

Vijender himself was able to see the bigger picture.

Good progress

“I am happy for winning the bronze. I believe that boxing will go up in India after this. We made good progress in these Games. I will work hard next time and I will win against him,” said Vijender.

Ever since Gurcharan Singh lost the light heavyweight medal in the last few seconds at the Sydney Games in 2000, Indian boxing has moved ahead. There is scope for more development and better results.

Rewards galore

SpiceJet has announced that Vijender can fly free for life in its domestic flights as a recognition of his historic feat.

The Haryana Olympic Association has granted a Rs. 25 lakh cash award for Vijender.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh announced a reward of Rs. five lakh.

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