Boxing | Vijender expects India to punch five or six medals at Asiad

World and Olympic medallist Vijender Singh has advised the Asian Games-bound Indian boxers to cut out all distractions, including mobile phones, and focus on winning medals.

“I told them, don’t distract your mind with that phone or media or anything. Just focus. It’s a war. You should win the war. After that, do whatever you want to do,” said Vijender, a 2008 Olympic bronze medallist in middleweight, during a virtual interaction.

He expected Indian boxers to win five to six medals. “Sakshi (Choudhary, 51kg) is hard-working. Preeti Pawar (54kg) is doing well. Priya Ghanghas (60kg) will also perform well. And Lovlina (Borgohain, 75kg). The girls are more hungry for medals.

“Among boys, Sachin (Siwach, 60kg) is good. And (Narender) Berwal (+90kg). He got an Asian Games medal and Arjuna Award. He must be confident.

“But girls are my favourites. Most of them are from Haryana. In the news, people say Haryanvi people don’t like girls. But our girls (are) changing everything.”

Vijender, who bagged a bronze and a gold in the 2006 and 2010 Asian Games respectively, shared how he made light of a dislocated left thumb to upset World champion Abbos Atoev in the Guangzhou Asiad final to secure gold.

Shut out the noise

Harbouring a competitive mindset, Vijender asked the Indians to ignore the concerns emerging from Japan. “It doesn’t matter if the room is big or small. What matters is our performance. We aren’t going there to have fun. We are going there to fight. And we have to win that fight.

“Countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, China and Japan are doing well. The Asian Games will be tough but our boxers are in good shape. I hope they will do well,” he said.

(Watch Asian Games live and exclusive on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV).