The most perfect team, says Krishan

Senior boxer Vikas Krishan called the 10-member boxing contingent picked for the upcoming Jakata-Palembang Asian Games the “most perfect team” during the send-off ceremony organised by the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) on Tuesday.

The team, comprising seven men and three women, was encouraged by the dignitaries present on the occasion which included DG SAI, Neelam Kapur; BFI President, Ajay Singh, Cdr. Rajesh Rajgopalan, CO, TOPS and team Manager and veteran BFI member Nirwan Mukherjee.

“I can assure you this is the most perfect team going for the Asian Games. Last time we got five medals, this time we will get more than that,” said Krishan, who has a gold (2010) and bronze (2014) from the Asian Games.

Following his stellar performance in Asiad, Krishan admitted the struggle to keep himself hungry. “CWG was new for me, so I poured all my energies into it. But Asian Games I have experienced before, I am a gold medallist there, so there is no “new factor”. I know I can do well. Confidence is there, but there is also a bit of overconfidence. So I am constantly trying to tell myself that the players from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are also very good. And I have lost against them,” he said.

“I told coach Santiago (Nieva) there is nothing new for me in the Asian Games. What is more to achieve when you already have a gold medal? He said you have one gold, one bronze. He asked me to focus on getting my second gold.

“It is all about inner motivation. Asia is the powerhouse of boxing. Most medals in World Championships are from Asia. So it is going to be a lot tougher. Our preparations have been good.”

The Indian team recently had a fruitful training stint at Sheffield, and Krishan, who fights in 75kg, hoped it would come in handy at Asiad.

“We concentrated on the technical aspects and sparred with the boxers from England, Wales. We went there because no one from Asia goes there to train much, so we thought we would get good training there,” he said.

‘The toughest competition is in my weight category because there are last time’s Asian Games silver medallist and Asian Championship gold medallist boxer from Uzbekistan, besides world silver medallist. So it will be a lot tougher, but we will do good.”

Nieva, who is the Performance Director too, said: “It is tough to make predictions but we have world class level boxers. We had a world championships medallist last year. Vikas and Shiva Thapa have won before. There will be many close bouts, but we are prepared, we have the talent and we will give our best.”

The boxing event begins on August 24.