Overlooked for Olympics,Yadav sets the record straight

In the Indian boxing camp,it is the bantamweight 56kg category which features the strongest roster of fighters,and hence the most competition.

In the Indian boxing camp,it is the bantamweight 56kg category which features the strongest roster of fighters,and hence the most competition. Which is why despite ten international medals to his credit,Chhote Lal Yadav8217;s name is not spoken of in the same manner as that of Akhil Kumar or Jeetinder Kumar.

In the selection trials earlier this year the 24-year again fell short,as youngsters Shiva Thapa and V Manikanandan made made their presence felt. Once seen as a top contender,Yadav was eventually pipped to the Olympic squad by Thapa. On Tuesday however,the 24-year-old boxer showed that he is still one to watch out in the bantamweight category with a 16-6 drubbing of last year8217;s silver medallist Manikanandan of Railways in the first round of the 59th boxing nationals at the LB Stadium,Hyderabad. 8220;It was disappointing to lose out on the spot for London Olympics trials. And I was completely shattered by the loss,8221; says Yadav. Needing to take his mind off the game,Yadav,currently a havildar,quit the national camp and applied for the JCO course in the Indian Army. The break helped as he began preparing with vigour for the Nationals.

Victory against Manikanandan was doubly sweet for it avenged his loss to the Railways boxer in the semi-finals of the Nationals last year. 8220;He is a swift boxer and it is always difficult to maintain distance from him,8221; shared Yadav. His confidence boosted,Yadav believes that good showing at the Nationals will help him not only push into the national camp which starts on November 14,but raise his profile as well.

And while Yadav left the camp after missing the cut earlier this year,he now feels a stint there will improve his game. Being in the national camp also meant that I travelled with the team to various countries and the exposure tours always help. In Cuba,I won two medals last year and some Cuban coaches also gave me useful tips,8221; shared Yadav,who first hit headlines when he won the silver medal inWorld Military Games in 2010.

National coach GS Sandhu is himself eager for Yadav to return. Sandhu says that boxers like Yadav can surprise anybody. 8220;Yadav8217;s biggest strength is his confidence and the way he fights against experienced boxers. He was bit disappointed about not being able to make it to the Indian team for the qualifiers. But seeing his fight today,he will be back to his best soon. It8217;s a good thing to have as many as international medal winners in one category and it helps the coaches because they can have two very good boxers sparring together,8221; shared Sandhu.