Boxer
Vijender Singh (75kg) qualifies for the London Olympic 2012 and becomes
first boxer to qualify for a third successive time after reaching the
semifinals of the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Kazakhstan on Sunday. The
first Indian to win an Olympic and World Championships medal -- bronze
in both events -- Vijender outpunched Chuluuntumur Tumurkhuyag of
Mongolia 27-17 to not just assure himself of an Olympic berth but also a
medal at the ongoing tournament. "I am back," were Vijender's first
words while speaking to a news agency from Astana on Sunday after
winning the crucial bout, a loss in which would have ended his hopes of
making the London Games.
The 26-year-old had failed in his first attempt to book a ticket for London in last year's World Championships. "I have answered all my critics, who said that I was finished (after losing in the first round of World Championships)," said the former world number one, who was gasping for breath after a draining encounter. Before the 2008 Beijing Games, Vijender had won gold at the Asian Qualifiers at that time, which incidentally were also held in Kazakhstan.
The 26-year-old had failed in his first attempt to book a ticket for London in last year's World Championships. "I have answered all my critics, who said that I was finished (after losing in the first round of World Championships)," said the former world number one, who was gasping for breath after a draining encounter. Before the 2008 Beijing Games, Vijender had won gold at the Asian Qualifiers at that time, which incidentally were also held in Kazakhstan.
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