Vijender loses to Uzbek Abbos Atoev

With Mary Kom assured of a medal, India now has earned more medals in Olympics than ever before.

One of the aspirants was Vijender Singh.  Vijender Singh Beniwal is from Kaluwas, Bhiwani district in Haryana. He was educated in his village, after which he received a bachelor’s degree from a local college in Bhiwani. He practised boxing at the Bhiwani Boxing Club where coach Jagdish Singh recognised his talent and encouraged him to take to professional boxing.

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.   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.

He has been given no. of awards including the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award—India's highest sporting honour. In January 2010, Vijender was awarded the Padma Shri for outstanding contribution to Indian sports.  He was in news stated to be the hero in a Bollywood thriller titled ‘Patiala Express’ but reportedly the project was shelved after his marriage.

At London Olympics, he beat Danabek Suzhanov of Kazakhstan 14-10 in the first round of men's middle-weight 75 kg category Boxing event, to advance to the round of 16 of the games. He then edged out American Terrell Gausha 16-15 to win the pre-quarter finals bout.

Yesterday, he lost to Abbos Atoev of Uzbekistan in quarter final with a score of 13-17.  Had he won, he would have created history by becoming the only individual Indian athlete to win two Olympic medals. A place in the semi-final would have assured him of at least a bronze like it did four years ago in Beijing. But, in London, the script unfolded in a different way.   Hail Vijender for the spirit

India's chances of a boxing medal from the men's event is still alive as L.Devendro Singh is in the quarterfinal.  

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.