London: India’s star boxer Vijender Singh’s dream to become the first Indian individual athlete to win medals in two successive Olympics came crashing down as he lost his quarterfinal bout against his Uzbekistan opponent in the men’s 75kg category.
The 26-year-old Vijender fought gallantly but was found wanting against his strong Uzbek opponent Abbos Atoev who carved out a 17-13 victory in a nerve wracking contest late on Monday night.
After M C Mary Kom romped into the semifinals of the women’s 51 kg category earlier in the day, the spotlight was on Vijender to assure India of at least another bronze medal but that did not materialise as the Indian bowed out of the competition much to the dismay of his supporters.
Vijender, a bronze medal winner in the Beijing Olympic Games four years ago, could not raise the tempo when it mattered most, as his Uzbek rival intelligently fended off his punches and launched counter attacks.
The Indian, who had carved out a hard-fought 16-15 victory in the quarters, began cautiously and was quite content in gauging the strategy of his Uzbek opponent in the first round, which ended 3-3.
Spurred on by the vociferous crowd, Vijender began the second round well but the Uzbek showed tremendous character to regain his composure and peg the Indian back, winning the round 7-5.
In a desperate third and final round, Vijender went all out on the attack. But in the process, he allowed his opponent to consolidate his position a little bit as he left his guard open and, though he landed a few punches, it was not enough to give him the lead. As a result, the third round ended 7-5.
“I gave it all but could not win. He is a very good boxer. I did make some mistakes, which cost me. But in sport, it happens. You win some, you lose some,” Vijender said after the bout.
India has seen five other boxers fall by the wayside in the Games. Only Mary Kom and Laishram Devendro Singh, both from Manipur, remain, and they will be in action on Wednesday. (PTI)