Hardeep eyes redemption with CWG medal

Ever since the 2000 Sydney Olympics quarter-finalist Gurcharan Singh left India,there has been only one reason for younger brother Hardeep Singh to continue boxing: to win back the family’s lost pride. The 30-year old navy boxer has been included in the Indian camp in the super heavyweight category after four years but his brother’s Olympic defeat and subsequent defection from the Indian Army to pursue professional boxing dreams in the U.S. is something that Hardeep cannot put behind him.

“I always looked up to Gurcharan and I still remember his disappointment after he missed out on the medal after losing on countback in Sydney,” Hardeep says. An army officer’s son,he believes by winning a national medal he can erase all doubts over his brother’s decision to quit the army and the country,“I have been regularly training with Indian Navy at Pune and Mumbai after 2006 and I hope my efforts will pay,” he adds.

Although the veteran boxer doesn’t have a strong resume to boast of,he won a bronze medal in President’s Cup in Indonesia in February 2001. He was a part of the Indian camp from 1996 to 2006 and took part in four international tournaments during that time. But a back injury meant Hardeep was out of the Indian team and has made a comeback only after he won silver at the National Championships in Patiala last week.

“I still cherish the medal in President’s Cup. At that time,boxing was not that popular in India. After Vijender’s medal,a lot has changed. Had it been the case back in 2000,Gurcharan probably would have stayed back.”