Ready for the world

Just before the Indian boxing contingent left for the Olympics, a reporter asked Jitender Kumar his name and the discipline he was going to participate in. Unaccustomed to the media, he quietly pledged to ensure that, if nothing else, he would not have to answer that question again.

Just before the Indian boxing contingent left for the Olympics, a reporter asked Jitender Kumar his name and the discipline he was going to participate in. Unaccustomed to the media, he quietly pledged to ensure that, if nothing else, he would not have to answer that question again.

8220;When I returned from Beijing, the same reporter was present at the airport, and he knew all about my results. People on the streets know me. Even though I didn8217;t win a medal, this is something only the Olympics could have given me,8221; he remembers with a laugh, on the eve of his departure for the World Cup in Moscow, beginning December 10.

Jitender is part of the four-member Indian contingent at the World Cup, open only to the top eight boxers at the Olympics.

He will be joined by Akhil Kumar, Dinesh Kumar and AL Lakra, the last two being wild card entries after a few pullouts from their respective categories.

And, having done away with the anonymity, Jitender is now keen on getting his hands on the elusive gold. He knows the going will be tough, though. 8220;There will be no easy fights here. It8217;s the best boxers in the world, the top eight at the Olympics. The target is always gold, but this will be tougher than the Olympics,8221; he says.

At the same time, the Olympic disappointment still rankles. 8220;Nothing matches that. I might win gold here, I may win anything else, but an Olympic medal is different. It8217;s a feeling that cannot be described,8221; he says, the quarter-final loss 8212; and the memory of the elusive medal 8212; still fresh. A mention of that loss stirs him up. 8220;No opponent can be taken lightly, but yes if I am drawn to play against him in Moscow, I will make sure that I win this time,8221; he asserts.

Akhil Kumar, who was a medal favourite at Beijing, is also confident. 8220;There were no flaws, there are none now. A good performance is when, even if you lose, the public and your opponent admit you gave your best till the end. And only that is in your hands. After that, luck is also important,8221; he says with his trademark swagger.

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Despite all the talk of medals, both admit that, though they are completely fit and training hard, the few weeks of training in South Africa was not at the pre-Olympic level. 8220;There is no comparison. Then, there was absolutely nothing else other than training throughout. But after the Olympics, there was a break for a month, when we did not train and had to travel all over the country. We had no idea about the World Cup. The day we got to know, we landed up in NIS Patiala for the special training camp, almost a week before the camp was to actually start,8221; Jitender says. Akhil adds there are no excuses. 8220;I am a boxer. Whether tournament or not, I gave up training for a month, took things lightly, it8217;s my fault. And if I don8217;t do well in Moscow, it will be the price I pay for my negligence,8221; he says bluntly.

Akhil also makes his displeasure of grand promises by politicians clear. 8220;It8217;s been four months since the Haryana government announced a job. Two months since the Railways ministry did the same. Something is yet to materialise,8221; Akhil, who is a Grade II employee with the Railways, said.

8220;Tell me, the government expects us to win medals, and we also perform only for the country. But after the initial high, things get back to routine, no one bothers. How long can one go on motivating himself8221; he asks. His application for a promotion to assistant commercial manager has been pending for almost three months now. 8220;It8217;s tough, no doubt. But I have been assured that things will be finalised soon,8221; says national coach GS Sandhu.