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Vikas storms into medal round
Vikas Krishan made everyone sit up and take notice when he won a gold medal in the Asian Games in China last year. Saurabh Duggal reports.
Vikas Krishan made everyone sit up and take notice when he won a gold medal in the Asian Games in China last year. After becoming the youngest-ever boxer to win a gold in the Asian Games, the pugilist added another feather to his cap on Wednesday when he made it to the medal round in the world championships, beating Ukraine's Taras Shelespyuk 9-8 in the quarterfinals.
The 20-year-old boxer from Bhiwani Boxing Club has become the second Indian boxer after Vijender Singh to win a medal in the world championships. Vijender won a bronze in 2009.
"It was a fight for the medal round and both of us went all out. I am happy I pulled it off," said Vikas Krishan from Baku. "It's a bout I will remember forever as it's has assured me a medal in the world arena. However, I can't count it as an extraordinary performance. I could have got more points," he said.
Vikas is playing his first-ever international tournament in his new weight category (69kg). After the Asian Games, where he won the title in 60kg, he decided to shift to 69kg weight category. "I always had the confidence to do well. So shifting to new weight category never put any pressure on me. After the Asian Games, I was preparing myself for the new weight category as I was finding it hard to maintain my earlier weight (60kg)," said Vikas.
"He is one of the most intelligent boxers and performed according to expectations. He was aggressive from the start and came out triumphant," said chief coach GS Sandhu.
