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All is not lost yet! |
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By: Ashwin Ferro |
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Date:
2008-08-19 |
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Place: Beijing |
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Blow: Veaceslav Gojan of Moldova (left) in action against Akhil Kumar during their bantamweight quarter-final bout in Beijing yesterday. Pic/AP | Such was boxer Akhil Kumar's confidence or rather over-confidence, if we may call it, that after his 10-3 quarter-final defeat to Republic of Moldova's Gojan Veaceslav, he actually told the disappointed Indian media here not to worry, and that such things happen.
"Why worry," Akhil asked the 30-odd Indian reporters at the Workers Stadium yesterday.
Fighter
"I'm not worried. If I was, I would not be here talking to you guys. I would have gone away. I'm a boxer and unlike other athletes these things don't bother me. I'm a fighter," he said after bowing out of the Beijing Games in the last eight stage taking away India's first of three hopes of a maiden Olympic boxing medal.
After Rounds One and Two were tied at 1-1 and 2-2 respectively, Akhil gave the indication that he would fight hard just like the way he edged out Russia's World Champion Sergey Vodopyanov (9-9 and thereafter on technical points) in the pre quarter-finals.
However, the Moldovan smartly adopted the hit and run strategy and was suddenly up 6-2 at the end of the penultimate third round. The fourth round too went to the foreigner (4-1) as he succeeded in frustrating the Indian with his blocks and quick pokes.
The disappointed 27-year-old Bhiwani boxer however is not done yet.
He now plans to mentor the other two Indians, who have also made the last eight of the competition, Jitender
Kumar (51 kg Flyweight) and Vijender Kumar (75 kg Middleweight).
"So, what if I failed? I will try and ensure the other two boys bring gold medals for India," Akhil announced even as he moved on realising he was getting a bit too carried away in the moment. "I think I'm speaking too aggressively. I must go and cool down," he said. |
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