GOOD LOOKS HELP CHANGE THE FACE OF BOXING IN INDIA
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 09 Apr 2012
Vijender Singh.
The good looks of three-time Olympian Vijender Singh has dramatically changed the face of boxing in India which, as of this writing, has qualified five boxers for the 2012 London Olympics with btwo others still in contention at the last Asian qualifying event in Astana, Kazakhstan.
It contrasts sharply with the Philippines where only one boxer, lightweight Charly Suarez remains standing in Astana and faces a tough task of winning the gold medal to qualify for London against a formidable roster of opponents.
The failure to secure more than one berth so far, courtesy of Mark Anthony Barriaga who made it to the semi finals in the AIBA Asian Championships which earned him a slot in the London Olympics, seems inexplicable in the face of the remarkable successes of our pro boxers.
Anchored on the exploits of our world professional boxing champions led by ?Fighter of the Decade? Manny Pacquiao. WBO super bantamweight champion and heir-apparent Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire, WBO flyweight champion Brian Viloria, WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes and recently crowned WBC flyweight champion Sonny Boy Jaro, the Philippines is regarded as a powerhouse in pro boxing.
For whatever reason this success is not reflected in the amateur ranks even as our nation pins its hopes on boxing to win a first, elusive Olympic gold medal.
The Indian surge is something of a phenomenon in a country eternally obsessed with cricket and celebrities, much like the Philippines in the case of the latter.
It took just one good-looking young boxer to see a dramatic surge in the interest in the sport in India. Since Singh won the middleweight bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics four years ago, the image of the sport in India has improved dramatically.
In some ways it matches the surge of interest in football in the Philippines when the Azkals burst onto the sporting scene some two years ago with a talented bunch of Fil-Foreigners led by the Younghusband brothers Phil and James.
Initially it was the good-looks of the players that drew the predominantly young fans but soon, showing that they could match their looks with a handsome performance on the field, Filipinos began to learn the nuances of the game and began to enjoy the brand of football played by the Azkals.
The message it sends is that there is no harm in initially capitalizing on the good looks of players to draw the fans and to enhance public support no matter what the sport.
With the basic nature of boxing which is, at least in the pro ranks, a blood and guts sport, a handsome face does make a difference just like Vijender Singh has done in India.
Singh is now a celebrity in a country that is indeed obsessed with celebrities. As one writer remarked, ?In Singh, Indian boxing has found the face to match the fists that were so essential in raising the sport?s profile.?
Singh, the poster boy of Indian boxing admits that Beijing ?did change a lot of things for us.?
More sponsors have come out to support boxing and should India win more medals in London, Singh believes things will get even better and more money will flow in.
When Singh won a bronze in Beijing he became India?s first genuine boxing celebrity in India. He points that ?Before I could go and walk around Delhi?s business district without being mobbed, which I cannot now.?
Although he claims that his life hasn?t changed much since Beijing, there are those who believe that his occasional appearances on TV shows and modeling catwalks and his frequent company with Bollywood stars tell a different story.
To his credit Vijender Singh obviously dismissed such distractions as he prepared to focus on his last chance to qualify for the Olympics in the Astana event.
The 26-year-old boxer asserted his class once again and earned a berth for the London Olympics by reaching semifinals of the Asian qualifiers on Sunday when he beat Mongolia's Chuluuntumur Tumurkhuyag 27-17 to clinch the last available chance for the London games.
Singh made some sort of history for India by becoming the first Indian boxer to qualify for the Olympics three times in a row. The victory was even more significant as it was the third time Vijender clinched an Olympic berth at the last possible chance.
Vijender was behind 4-6 at the end of the first round but rallied in the second to take a two point lead at 13-11. The young star let it all hang out in the third round and ended with a flourish to score a commanding 27-17 win.
It was a far different story for the fine-man Philippine contingent with only lightweight Charly Suarez in contention for an Olympic berth after four other hopefuls including Asian Games gold medalist Rey Saludar were badly beaten.
After winning his opening bout against tough Madadi Nagzibekov of Tajikistan 14-11, Suarez will face off against Abdalay Uulu Anarby of Kyrzgstan late Monday. Anarby won a bronze medal in the Asian Championships last year and is a formidable opponent.
Because of the qualifying rules only the winner of the lightweight division will qualify for the Olympics which makes the task of Suarez even harder and the burden heavier for the last man standing from the Philippine contingent.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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