Indian boxers will pack a punch in Rio, feel stalwarts

TIL Desk Sports/ Confident about the trio of Shiva Thapa, Vikas Krishan and Manoj Kumar, stalwarts of Indian boxing feel the three are capable of producing a historic Olympic performance in Rio despite the pressure they are facing.

Beijing 2008 bronze-medallist Vijender Singh, London 2012 bronze-winner M C Mary Kom and Beijing quarterfinalist Akhil Kumar — the three names which took Indian boxing to unprecedented heights — will be watching the current crop’s fortunes in Rio closely.

All three of them exuded confidence that Shiva (56kg), Manoj (64kg) and Vikas (75kg) will come good at the biggest stage. “I am expecting all three of them to win medals. All of them are experienced, this is their second Olympics and I feel all of them can return with medals despite the pressure,” said Vijender, India’s first Olympic and World Championships medallist.