BEIJING: Indian boxing contingent's physiotherapist Heath Matthews told MiD DAY that given the injury to Jitender Kumar's face in the previous bout, it was no less than a miracle that he took to the ring for his 51 Kg Flyweight match yesterday.

"He had a huge cut around his jaw-line, near the chin. He needed 11 stitches, which takes a bit of time to heel. But time is something we didn't have.

Fortunately we managed it somehow and he gave it his all." Senior boxer Akhil Kumar too echoed Heath's words.

"Despite his (11:15) defeat (to Russian Georgy Balakshin, I think Jitendra was a winner simply for the courage he showed out there."