Indian Boxers at London 2012

Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them - a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, and they have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.

Muhammad Ali

India is fielding the largest boxing contingent for London Olympics 2012, with 8 boxers standing in the ring with the Indian flag. 7 men and a woman boxer MC Mary Kom will form the Indian boxing contingent.

Boxing is the field in which India has performed considerably well in the past 4 years. While Vijender Singh, the Olympic Bronze Medalist from Beijing 2008 will be the flag bearer and the poster boy of Indian Boxing Contingent, women boxer and 5 times World Champion M C Mary Kom is a serious medal prospect for India. 

The Indian boxing team has a perfect mix of experienced campaigners as well as young blood. Experienced campaigners like Vijender Singh and Mary Kom will provide the guidance to the young players like Shiva Thapa and Vikas Krishan Yadav who have made it to the mega event at the small age of 18 and 20 respectively. Boxers in the name of Manoj Kumar, Jai Bhagwan and Sumit Sangwan have the zeal and gusto to stand tall in the medals tally and improve India’s overall performance.

Medal Hopefuls in the Boxing Arena for India

Vijender Singh- This 26 year old boxer has showcased his ability in the 2008 edition of the games by winning a bronze medal in the middle-weight category; he will surely want to change the color this time. After the performance at Beijing, he went on to win bronze medal in World Amateur Boxing Championship and Bronze medal and Gold medal in the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games 2010 respectively. Vijender Singh is surely the Brand Ambassador of Boxing in India and gold in London will be valuable for him and the sport as well.

M C Mary Kom- Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom, 29 year old boxer from Manipur is the senior most member of the Boxing contingent. The five time world champion will be the favorite for the medal in the flyweight category of Women’s Boxing in London 2012. Though the star boxer will not be contending in her usual light flyweight categeory in London the Bronze medal winner from Guangzhou Asian Games 2010, she will still be a tough challenge for the opponents in Flywieght category.

Indian Boxing is certainly on a rise but there is still a long way to go. Young boxers like Shiva Thapa may not be the favorites in this edition of the Olympics; they will surely rise in the years to come. It’s the time when the every player puts his best foot forward and wins a medal for India.