Analysing India’s boxing contingent at Rio 2016

Though India haven’t won a medal at Rio 2016 yet, the nation’s representatives in Brazil have performed commendably in multiple events, winning everyone’s hearts.

Beijing 2008 Gold medalist, Abhinav Bindra, came excruciatingly close to another medal finish, losing out on a shootoff to finish 4th in his pet 10m Air Rifle event.  Gymnast Dipa Karmakar has created history by qualifying for the vault finals, a first for any Indian gymnast while rower Dattu Bhokanal qualified for the quarter-finals in his event.

Amidst such inspirational performances, the Indian boxing contingent will start their engagements tomorrow with middleweight Vikas Krishan the first to step into the ring. His compatriots Shiva Thapa and Manoj Kumar will be in action soon after.

Here’s a look at our boxing team and how they stand against their opponents –

Vikas Krishan (75 kg)

 

The 24-year-old Indian is at his second Olympic Games, having gone to London 2012 on the back of a Gold medal at the 2010 Asian Games in the lightweight category and a Bronze at the World Amateur Boxing Championships in 2011 as a welterweight.

Krishan was denied a shot at glory in 2012 after he had defeated his opponent, Errol Spence, of the USA, 13-11 in the prelimnary round. The opposition had appealed the verdict, citing Krishan’s holding fouls which went unpunished, and the decision was overturned.

The JSW Sports Excellence Program boxer, who switched to the middlweight category, won the Bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games and the Silver medal at the 2015 Asian Boxing Championships.

His speed and agility, in addition to his ability of being able to land solid punches in short bursts, makes him a very dangerous opponent. He will go up against 18-year-old Charles Conwell  Jr. of the United States of America, who is a highly-rated prospect and will come out all guns blazing.

Krishan will be looking to use his experience to his advantage and weave in and out of Conwell’s punches, who has a very aggressive style of boxing.

The second seed, Bektemir Melikuziev, could be a potential opponent in the quarter-finals for Vikas.