Vijender Singh

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Vijender Singh
Picture of a young Indian male up to the waist. He has sharp features and short cropped black hair. He wears a black shirt and holds a trophy in his left hand
Singh at the Sahara Indian Sports Awards function
Born 29 October 1985 (1985-10-29) (age 26)
Kalwas (5 km from Bhiwani), Haryana, India
Residence India
Nationality Indian
Citizenship Indian
Occupation Boxer Middleweight
Height 182 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Spouse Archana Singh
Medal record
Competitor for  India
Men's Boxing
Olympic Games
Bronze 2008 Beijing Middleweight
World Amateur Boxing Championships
Bronze 2009 Milan Middleweight
Commonwealth Games
Silver 2006 Melbourne Welterweight
Bronze 2010 Delhi Middleweight
Asian Games
Bronze 2006 Doha Middleweight
Gold 2010 Guangzhou Middleweight

Vijender Singh Beniwal (born October 29, 1985) (also known as Vijender Singh or Vijender Beniwal) is an Olympic Medalist Indian boxer from Kalwash, Bhiwani district in Haryana.Vijender’s early days were spent in his village where he did his schooling, after which he received a bachelor’s degree from a local college in Bhiwani. He practiced boxing at the Bhiwani Boxing Club where coach Jagdish Singh recognized his talent and encouraged him to take to professional boxing.

Vijender went on to compete at the sub-junior nationals where he won a silver medal for two years in succession. Having won medals in different competitions at the national level, Vijender was picked to train and compete at several international level competitions such as the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics and the 2006 Commonwealth Games. At the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, he won the bronze medal after losing the semifinal bout against Kazakhstan's Bakhtiyar Artayev. At the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, he defeated Carlos Góngora of Ecuador 9–4 in the quarterfinals which guaranteed him a bronze medal—the first ever Olympic medal for an Indian boxer.

After this historic win, Vijender was given a number of awards, including the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award—India's highest sporting honour. In 2009, he participated at the World Amateur Boxing Championships where he won the bronze medal. In the same year, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) announced Vijender as the top-ranked boxer in its annual middleweight category list with 2800 points. He is credited for bringing back the sport of boxing into the limelight in India.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] 1985–2003: Early life and foray into boxing

Vijender was born on October 29, 1985[citation needed] in an Indian family in Kalwash village, near to Bhiwani in the state of Haryana. His father, Mahipal Singh Beniwal, is a bus driver with Haryana Roadways, while his mother is a homemaker. His father worked overtime to pay for the education of Vijender and his elder brother, Manoj.[1][2] Schooled initially in Kalwash, Singh then attended secondary school in Bhiwani and thereafter obtained a Bachelor's degree from Vaish College.[citation needed]

Singh's interest in boxing was inspired by his brother,[3] who took up the sport in 1996 and was able to gain a place in the Indian Army in 1998 on the strength of his boxing ability. Singh had taken up the sport with his brother in 1996, and he joined a centre operated by the Sports Authority of India. It was around this time that another boxer, Raj Kumar Sangwan, had been given the Arjuna Award and Manoj has said that from that event "a craze for the sport increased. Coming from a poor family, it was one of the main avenues to get a job."[4]

Supported by his parents, who did not insist that he prioritise his education after they realised his sporting talent, what began for Singh as a past-time became his career.[5] Trained from the outset by Jagdish Singh, Vijender won his first state championship in 1997 and in 2000 won a gold medal at the national championships. Subsequently, in 2003, and despite still being classified as a junior boxer, he was selected to represent India in the Afro-Asian Games, at which he won a silver medal and was rewarded with a payment of Rs. 7 lakh by the state government. In the same year, his coach opened the Bhiwani Boxing Club and it was there that Vijendra continued his training,[4] while working part-time in various jobs - including as a model - in order to finance it.[citation needed]

[edit] 2004–07: Athens Olympics and Commonwealth Games

An young Indian male and a female standing side-by-side. The man is on the right and wears a blue-grey shirt and navy-blue trousers. He is smiling looking down to the right of the camera and holds a glass, triangular shaped trophy in his hands. The female also looks towards the bottom right and wears a shiny dress whose top portion is light green in color and the skirt area being silvery. Her long black hair falls on her shoulders.
Vijender with actress Amrita Rao during a ramp walk on a modelling show.

Vijender went to compete at the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics, in the welterweight division,[6] but lost to Mustafa Karagollu of Turkey by a score of 20–25.[citation needed] At the 2006 Commonwealth Games, he defeated England's Neil Perkins in the semifinal[citation needed] but lost to South Africa's Bongani Mwelase in the final[citation needed], thus leaving with a bronze medal.[6] This win led a movement up the competing division. Vijender took part in the middleweight (75 kg) division at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, where he won the bronze medal in a lost semifinal bout against Kazakhstan's Bakhtiyar Artayev with the final score of 24–29. Initially Vijender was not supposed to compete because of a back injury, but he recovered in time to win the tournament and qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.[7]

Among his preparations for the 2008 Beijing Olympics was a period spent early in that year when he trained with German boxers in their own country. This training incorporated a tournament involving boxers from around Europe, in one event of which Singh won gold having beaten a German in the process.[7] At The President's Cup boxing tournament, which is touted as a dress rehearsal for the Olympic games, Vijender defeated Artayev in a quarterfinal bout. Speaking after this, Vijender sounded confident of his physical shape.[8] Talking about his preparation for the Beijing Olympics, Vijender said:

"I did not do well the last time because then I was young and did not have the experience. I have just made it to the senior level and qualified for the Olympics. Now I have the experience. I have won medals at major tournaments like the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. Recently, I also beat the 2004 Olympic Games gold medallist [Bakhtiyar] Artayev [in the AIBA President's Cup], so I have done quite well at the international level. So, definitely, everyone can expect a good showing from me in Beijing."[7]
"Now I have quite a lot of experience after competing at the international level regularly. I just want to say that Indian boxers are no longer a weak lot; all are doing well at the international level. Our boxing graph is going up all the time and the rest of the world is now scared to face Indian boxers."[7]

[edit] 2008–09: The Beijing Olympics and AIBA top rank

Picture of an young Indian male up to the waist. He has sharp features, short cropped black hair and is clad in a pink striped shirt and khaki pants with a black belt. The man appears to look a little to the right of the camera, smiling and making a gesture with his left hand as if he is punching.
Vijender at the opening of a gymnasium in Mumbai.

After the wins in Germany, Vijender's training for the Olympics continued in Patiala where Indian boxers going to the Olympics held a camp.[7] Vijender was accompanied by boxers Dinesh Kumar, Akhil Kumar, Jitender Kumar and Antharish Lakra. The Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) sent a videographer to shoot extensively the bouts involving the likely opponents of the five Indian boxers. A team of coaches went through the video footage shot by videographer Sambhu of the National Institute of Sports, Patiala, and studied the technique of the boxers from various countries in detail, so as to prepare Vijender and the others regarding the opponent's maneuvers and fighting techniques.[9]

At the 2008 Summer Olympics, he defeated Badou Jack of Gambia 13–2 in the round of 32. In the round of 16, he defeated Angkhan Chomphuphuang of Thailand 13–3 to reach the Middleweight Boxing Quarterfinals.[10] He beat southpaw Carlos Góngora of Ecuador 9–4 in the quarterfinals on 20 August 2008 which guaranteed him a medal, the first ever Olympic medal for an Indian boxer. He lost 5–8 to Cuba's Emilio Correa in the semi-finals on 22 August 2008 and shared a bronze medal.[11] Vijender, and Indian wrestler Sushil Kumar—who won a bronze at the men's wrestling competitions—were welcomed grandly to India after their victory.[12]

In July 2009, Vijender accompanied by Sushil and boxer Mary Kom were felicitated with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award—India's highest sporting honour. It was the first time that three sportspeople were picked for the award; the award selection committee decided to felicitate all of them, taking into consideration their performance for the cycle of 2008–09. Kom and Vijender were the first boxers to get the award which carried prize money of Rs 7.5 lakh and a citation.[13] Both Sushil and Vijender were recommended to the Padma Shri awards committee, by the Indian Sports and Home Ministries; however, they were denied the awards after recommendations were not fruitful by the Padma Awards Committee for 2009 winners. The denial of Padma Shri for them created a furore among masses with allegations of promoting only a few sports.[14] Vijender later took up a job with the Haryana Police department which paid him Rs 14,000 per month.[15]

Vijender participated at the 2009 World Amateur Boxing Championships. He was beaten by Abbos Atoev of Uzbekistan in the semi-final of the 75 kg Middleweight category, by 7 points to 3 and was thus awarded the bronze medal. Vijender won the first round of the bout 1–0, only for Atoev to run rampant in the second, landing five unanswered blows. The third round was evenly contested with both fighters scoring on a couple of occasions, but Vijender had already lost the match.[16] In September 2009, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) announced Vijender as the top-ranked boxer in its annual middle-weight (75 kg) category list. He topped the list with 2800 points.[17][18]

[edit] 2010–present: Padma Shri and Commonwealth Games

In January 2010, Vijender was awarded the Padma Shri for outstanding contribution to Indian sports.[19] Later, he participated in the invitational Champions of Champions boxing tournament in China, and won a silver medal, losing 0-6 to Zhang Jin Ting in the 75 kg middleweight final.[20] At the 2010 Commonwealth Boxing Championship held in New Delhi March 18, 2010, he along with five other fellow Indians won gold medal. Vijender defeated England's Frank Buglioni 13–3.[21]

At the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Vijender Singh was beaten by England's Anthony Ogogo in the semi-finals. Leading 3–0 on points going into the final round, Singh was twice given a two point penalty by Canadian referee Michael Summers, the second for coming just 20 seconds before the end of the bout, leading Ogogo to win by 4 points to 3. The Indian Boxing Federation (IBF)launched an unsuccessful appeal, leaving Singh with a bronze medal.[22] IBF Secretary General P K Muralidharan Raja said, "The jury reviewed the bout and came to the conclusion that Vijender was holding his opponent and the referee was right in warning him. When the Indian team pointed out that even Ogogo was holding Vijender, the jury felt it was not the case." Singh lashed out saying that the penalties were "harsh and unfair. The warnings were unfair and harsh. If the referee thought I was holding Ogogo then he should have penalised this guy as well. He was also holding me. It's a joke that somebody has won by scoring points just out of warnings."[23]

Although previously denied by him, Hindustan Times reported that the boxer took up a role in the part real part fictional Bollywood thriller tentatively titled One, to be directed by South Indian director Anand.[24] The film was later reveated to be named Patiala Express, which is produced by Percept Limited. Shooting for the film was supposed to begin in early 2011.[25] However, on May 17, 2011, Vijender got married to Archana Singh, a software engineer with an MBA degree, from Delhi. The wedding was solemnised in Delhi in a simple ceremony, and reception was organised at his native place Bhiwani.[citation needed] However, the wedding prompted the filmmakers to drop him from the project, as they felt that Vijender would not enjoy the same popularity among female fans. The film’s launch was widely reported in March 2011, and actor Govinda had confirmed Vijender’s debut with his daughter. Vijender refused to confirm if he has indeed been dropped from the film, saying that “I have to concentrate on my boxing. Wait before you see me in films."[26]

His boxing style, hooks and uppercut are compared by the media with style of actor Sylvester Stallone as the character Rocky Balboa in the Rocky film series.[citation needed] Vijender cites him as one his primary influences, along with boxers Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali,[5] and boxing promoter Don King.[citation needed]

[edit] In media

Four men standing. Middle of them is a young Indian male who wears a shiny orange dressing gown with blue border. His hands are behind his head. The other three men are all dressed in black and appear to be waiting around the man.
Vijender preparing for a boxing match on a television show.

After his Olympic win, Vijender emerged into mainstream media prominence in India and became the latest pin-up boy.[citation needed] Apart from boxing, Vijender took part in ramp shows also. However he commented that with partaking modelling, he wished to "bring the game [boxing] in the limelight, make it as popular as possible and catapult it to its deserving place at the top."[27] He has regularly spoken against the bias that Indian media has promoted only cricket as the sole game in India. In an interview with The Kolkata Telegraph, he commented:

Thanks to the media, people have started taking boxing seriously over the past two years. Everyone knows my name now because my achievements have been highlighted. Lekin boxing ka toh kuch promotion hi nahin hota India mein. (But boxing is still not promoted in India!) We don’t have boxing academies, we don’t even have proper boxing rings. I have lost count of the times I have approached the government and the sporting authorities for support, but nothing has happened. [...] In this country, everyone is hung up on cricket. Forget about boxing, India is doing so well in other sports too. Saina Nehwal is a great badminton player, the Indian tennis team has just won a Davis Cup tie, lekin hamare liye support kahan hai? (where is the support for us boxers?)[5]

Vijender was approached by Percept Picture Company to act as a guide and counsellor to participants taking part in the Indian version of the boxing reality show The Contender, which follows a group of boxers competing with each other in a single elimination style-competition.[28] He agreed despite being still contractually obligated with Infinity Optimal Solutions (IOS), a celebrity management firm who dealt with his media appearances and ramp walks as a male model. IOS successfully petitioned the the Delhi High Court to bar him from entering into any deal with Percept.[29]

Vijender appeared on Bollywood actor Salman Khan's game show 10 Ka Dum. He was accompanied by Bollywood actor Mallika Sherawat. Other appearances includes the fourth season of the Indian dance reality show Nach Baliye with actor Bipasha Basu.[30] Vijender is credited by the critics and the media for bringing the sport of boxing back into the limelight in India. His rise to the top rank of the boxing world has been an inspiration for the younger generation and has brought more aspirants and followers, to the sport.[31]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Press, Associated Foreign (2008-08-20). "Indian boxer Vijender mobbed after historic medal". Agence France-Presse (Google News). http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g-m2Gyb-lDXNYglaR2eQC16Yn7qg. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  2. ^ Jayaram, Rahul (2008-08-31). "‘If I fight again I’ll beat him for sure...I won’t make the same mistakes again’". The Telegraph (Kolkata). http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080831/jsp/7days/story_9766562.jsp. Retrieved 2009-11-08. 
  3. ^ Marar, Nandakumar (2008-07-25). "Vijender may spring a surprise". The Hindu (The Hindu Group). http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2008072551581700.htm&date=2008/07/25/&prd=th&. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  4. ^ a b Sarangi, Y.B. (2008-08-30). "‘Vijender is a winner’". The Hindu (The Hindu Group). http://www.tssonnet.com/tss3135/stories/20080830501000800.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  5. ^ a b c Roy, Priyanka (2009-10-07). "Cricket Mein Bahut Paisa Hain, But Boxing Is A Man's Game". The Telegraph (Ananda Publishers). http://www.telegraphindia.com/1091007/jsp/entertainment/story_11582955.jsp. Retrieved 2009-10-09. 
  6. ^ a b Reporter, MSN (2009-09-30). "Vijender Singh: India's very own Gladiator". MSN. http://sports.in.msn.com/othersports/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3259302&page=0. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  7. ^ a b c d e Kotian, Harish; Mahapatra, Bikash (2008-07-23). "'The world is now scared to face Indian boxers'". Rediff.com. http://www.rediff.com/sports/2008/jul/23inter.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  8. ^ Khadilkar, Dhananjay (2008-05-29). "Power punch". Daily News & Analysis. http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report_power-punch_1167163. Retrieved 2009-11-08. 
  9. ^ Reporter, TI (2008-05-15). "Indian boxers to study videos of Olympic rivals". Thaindian News. http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/sports/indian-boxers-to-study-videos-of-olympic-rivals_10048854.html. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  10. ^ Rperter, Zee (1985-2008). "Vijender Singh: Profile". Zee News (Zee Entertainment Enterprises). http://www.zeenews.com/news463714.html. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  11. ^ Reporter, BBC (2008-08-22). "India's Kumar wins boxing bronze". BBC (BBC Online). http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/boxing/7576191.stm. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  12. ^ Reporter, Zee (2008-08-26). "Grand welcome for Sushil Kumar and Vijender Singh". Zee News (Zee Entertainment Enterprises). http://olympics.zeenews.com/Story.aspx?id=891. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  13. ^ Sarangi, Y.B. (2009-09-26). "Mary Kom, Vijender and Sushil get Khel Ratna". The Hindu (The Hindu Group). http://www.hindu.com/holnus/000200907291721.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  14. ^ Chandra, Subhash (2009-03-24). "RTI reveals Sushil, Vijender recommended for Padma Awards". CNN-IBN (Turner Broadcasting System). http://ibnlive.in.com/news/rti-reveals-sushil-vijender-recommended-for-padma-awards/86771-3.html. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  15. ^ Biswas, Soutik (2008-07-21). "Against the Odds: Vijender Kumar". BBC (BBC Online). http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7482661.stm. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  16. ^ Correspondent, Special (2009-09-13). "Vijender settles for bronze". The Kolkata Telegraph (Ananda Publishers). http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090913/jsp/sports/story_11486195.jsp. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  17. ^ "World Top Wrestlers". International Boxing Association (AIBA). 2009-09-23. http://www.aiba.org/documents/site1/WR_AIBA_220909.pdf. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  18. ^ India, Press Trust (2009-09-29). "Vijender becomes world number one". The Times of India (The Times Group). http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/boxing/Vijender-becomes-world-number-one/articleshow/5067839.cms. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  19. ^ Corresspondent, Special (2010-01-26). "Sehwag, Saina among Padma Shri awardees". The Telegraph (Ananda Publishers). http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100126/jsp/sports/story_12029050.jsp. Retrieved 2010-02-03. 
  20. ^ "Vijender bags silver in Champions of Champions". IBN Live. 2010-02-03. http://ibnlive.in.com/news/vijender-bags-silver-in-champions-of-champions/109607-5-23.html. Retrieved 2010-02-03. 
  21. ^ "India claim overall title in Commonwealth Boxing Championship". The Times of India. 2010-03-18. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/5694631.cms. Retrieved 2010-05-17. 
  22. ^ Scaggs, Tony (2010-10-11). "Anthony Ogogo Defeats India's Answer To David Beckham". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/commonwealthgames/8057183/Commonwealth-Games-2010-Anthony-Ogogo-defeats-Indias-answer-to-David-Beckham.html. Retrieved 2010-11-10. 
  23. ^ "Warnings knock Vijender out of CWG, three Indians in finals". NDTV India. 2010-10-11. http://www.ndtv.com/article/commonwealth%20games/warnings-knock-vijender-out-of-cwg-three-indians-in-finals-59016. Retrieved 2010-11-10. 
  24. ^ India, Associated Press (2009-09-30). "Boxer Vijender ventures into Bollywood". Hindustan Times (HT Media Ltd). http://www.hindustantimes.com/Boxer-Vijender-ventures-into-Bollywood/H1-Article1-459705.aspx. Retrieved 2009-10-01. 
  25. ^ Sood, Aman (2010-05-29). "Vijender to wear greasepaint for desi Rocky". The Indian Express. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/vijender-to-wear-greasepaint-for-desi-rocky/625116/. Retrieved 2010-06-07. 
  26. ^ Marwah, Navdeep Kaur (2011-05-28). "Post marriage, Vijender Singh chucked out of film". Hindustan Times (HT Media Ltd). http://www.hindustantimes.com/Post-marriage-Vijender-Singh-chucked-out-of-film/Article1-702635.aspx. Retrieved 2011-05-29. 
  27. ^ India, Press Trust (2008-09-26). "I want to use modelling to catapult boxing: Vijender". The Indian Express (Indian Express Group). http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/I-want-to-use-modelling-to-catapult-boxing-Vijender/366292/. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  28. ^ India, Associated Press (2009-09-18). "Reality bug bites boxer Vijender Singh". Deccan Herald. http://www.deccanherald.com/content/25981/reality-bug-bites-boxer-vijender.html. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  29. ^ India, Press Trust (2009-09-23). "Delhi HC stays Vijender Singh's deal with Percept". NDTV. http://www.ndtv.com/news/sports/delhi_hc_stays_vijender_singhs_deal_with_percept.php. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  30. ^ India, Press Trust (2009-09-19). "Vijender Singh to host sport reality TV show The Contender". Oneindia.in (Greynium Information Technologies Pvt. Ltd.). http://entertainment.oneindia.in/television/top-stories/news/2009/vijender-host-the-contender-190909.html. Retrieved 2009-10-01. 
  31. ^ India, Press Trust (2009-10-01). "Blow by blow". The Indian Express. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/blow-by-blow/523571/. Retrieved 2009-10-01. 

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