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Jai Bhagwan marches on, Dilbagh dances to victory
Two weeks before the Commonwealth Games, Jai Bhagwan had an unsettling sense of restlessness. Not that he was wary of his opponents at the Games, it had to do with something intangible. Saurabh Duggal reports
Two weeks before the Commonwealth Games, Jai Bhagwan had an unsettling sense of restlessness. Not that he was wary of his opponents at the Games, it had to do with something intangible.
When probed a little further, he revealed that it wasn't nervousness. Nor was it anxiety. "I just can't wait for the moment to finally arrive," he said.
When Bhagwan descended into the ring, his first first few steps were tentative, lacking the usual rhythm. But that lasted all of 15 seconds in the first round. Once he picked up his first point, it was a different story. Now that the moment he was waiting for has arrived, the man with the nervous energy cant wait to get into the medal rounds.
Jai Bhagwan was not complacent or hurried though. He took his time working on a comfortable win over Colan Caleb of Nauru (9-1) in the opening round on Wednesday in a packed Talkatora Stadium.
The 25-year-old Indian, who won gold at the Commonwealth Championships early this year will meet Tanzania's Nasser Mafuru next.
In the first round, Jai attacked his opponent from the word go with his lethal combinations and scored two quick opening points. After taking the lead, he stayed well out of his opponent's reach. "I want to win each and every bout," he said after the bout.
"I think I am in a great shape and should do well in the competition. Height was to my advantage as well," he said.
When Dilbagh Singh stepped into the ring, he had his defeat in the first round of the Commonwealth Championships on his mind. His first few punches lacked direction. But when he connected his right for the first point, he launched into combinations and attacked his opponent's centre. “I did not want to lose in the first round here,” said the boxer. “I want to take the event bout by bout. No predictions, no expectation, I just want to win every bout.”
