“There was a little bit of pressure but I am relaxed now”, said star boxer Vijender Singh as he dug from his wealth of experience to present a strong case for selection in the trials for the World Championships to be held from October 11 to 27.
The 27-year-old, who was India’s first medallist in the World Championships -- a bronze in 2009, took to the ring in a packed hall against rising boxer Sukhdeep Singh, who fought him without a headguard.
“There was a little bit of pressure, it is just that I am good at hiding it. But I kept getting better with every round and ultimately, I am feeling good about my game,” the former world number one in middleweight said in a chat after the bout.
“I am happy with my performance in the trials but I can always do better. But for the time being, I am just relaxed that I did well in my comeback,” added the boxer, who went through quite a bit of turmoil earlier this year after getting implicated in a drug scandal, in which he was later cleared.
Asked if he felt any more tested than the usual, the Haryana-lad said it was bound to happen after the break.
“I had stayed away for sometime, so obviously it would show slightly but overall I was satisfied with the performance. It is actually good to see that I have challengers and that too strong challengers,” he said.
“It would be my fourth World Championship (to be held in Almaty, Kazakhstan) in a row, provided I am selected, which I should be,” he added with a wink.
Blessed with a son recently, Vijender said he was enjoying fatherhood.
“I have named him Abir, a name that I personally like very much and also it starts with the initials of my wife, Archana,” he laughed.
