After bronze, Vijender eyes Gold at World Boxing Championship

Beijing Olympic bronze medallistVijender Singh will take another step towards the Gold in the World BoxingChampionship, when he faces Uzbekistan in the semi-final bout on Friday nightin Milan.

By enteringthe semi finals, Vijender had ensured that India will win its first medal everat a world boxing championship.

In his quarter-finalbout, the top seed in the 75 kilogram category defeated Ukraine's Sergiy 12-4.

When askedabout being under pressure because of Beijing medal, the dashing boxer said heloves to take up challenges as these opportunities come once in a while.

"Itfeels good to play under pressure. You don't get this again and again. Theyremain mere memories. There is a different feeling when you play underpressure."

India's newblue-eyed boy also said he felt bad for his fellow Indian boxers - Dinesh Kumarand Jai Bhagwan - who failed to surge ahead in the championship.

"Wefeel bad that Dinesh could not win in the quarterfinals. But both Dinesh andJai Bhagwan were both my room partners. Jai Bhagwan had said much earlier thatthe medal would come from this room. And his words came true. The coach's facewas worth a glimpse. Only I can understand what they went through. All of Indiawas watching and there was no medal as yet. I knew that I had to put in my 100%again. God listened to me and I am glad for that."

While coachGurbax Singh Sandhu was all praise for his disciple and showed confidence ingetting a notch ahead.

"Weare more than happy and feel very proud that we have done this and India haswon the first medal in world championship. Now our aim is to change the colorof the medal as soon as possible," he said.

Sandhu alsohailed Vijender's intelligence and his way of handling things despite beingunder pressure after Dinesh's ouster.

"Hehad boxed very well in the previous two bouts and he had impressed everyone.And now there was a lot of pressure on him since Dinesh had lost. And this boyis also world ranking. He is from a good boxing league. So there was a lot ofpressure. But I think he is very intelligent, cool and shrewd. He is able tomanage things and he is able to do it. Before entering the bout he said, don'tworry, I'll do it. In the round when he began in the first round he beganscoring. In the first round he was leading by one point and in the second roundhe was leading by 4 points. Ultimately he won by 12 4," Sandhu said.

When askedabout Vijender's chances in the upcoming crucial bouts, Sandhu accepted thedifficulties ahead but sounded confident enough to improve the grade.

"The boutsafter this are very tough. Because all the players who have reached this levelare seeded or they have defeated seeded players. Seeded players means topranking players. You can't take any boxer lightly now. Every bout will be touchand go. So the bouts are going to be very tough. Let us see how Vijender isable to manage the pressure and perform but I am confident that he will be ableto change the colour of the medal".