The hype is increasing and so is the pressure as Indian boxers begin their prequarterfinal campaign in the Olympic Games with Vijender Singh (75kg) and Jai Bhagwan (60kg) taking on tricky opponents in their last-16 stage bouts tomorrow.
Beijing Olympics bronze-medallist Vijender will be up against American Olympic Qualification Tournament gold-medallist Terrell Gausha of the United States.
Jai, on the other hand, will square off against Gani Zhailauov of Kazakhstan.While Vijender would be facing Gousha for the first time, Jai would have revenge on his mind as he lost to Zhailauov by just a point in the quarter-finals of the World Championships last year.
The overall record between the two boxers is tied at 1-1.The 26-year-old Vijender, making a record third Olympic appearance in boxing, is aiming to better the colour of his medal in the British capital where the expatriates have come out in droves to support the boxers.
“Vijender’s opponent has both stance. He can box both as a southpaw and with an orthodox style. But we are positive about getting a favourable result. Vijender is full of confidence,” national coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu told
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