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 He may have lost his own fight and then gone on to see one his teammates, Jitender Kumar go down too. But Akhil Kumar's (54 kg Bantamweight) faith in the last remaining Indian boxer in the fray, Vijender Kumar (75 kg Middleweight), is unshakeable.
In an interview to MiD DAY the 27-year-old previews today's all-important semi-final bout between Vijender and Emilio Correa Bayeaux of Cuba.
Excerpts:
Are you disappointed that it's going to be only one boxing medal for India instead of three?
Something is always better than nothing, so there's no reason to be disappointed. Besides, I don't think myself or Jitu (Jitender, 51 kg Flyweight) fought badly. It was just not our day. Our opponents got off to good starts and held on to their lead. We gave it our best.
What's the mood in the camp on the eve of Vijender's fight?
The mood is very positive. Vijender knows that he does not only have the support of the entire boxing and Indian contingent here but also a billion people back home will be behind him. He is ready for the fight of his life.
But all these expectations can be very pressurising...
Vijender is beyond pressure. Having reached the semi-finals (where both losers receive bronze medals) he has already won a medal for India the first Olympic boxing medal for his country. His quarter-final match was the pressure fight. From now on, he has to only improve on what he has done so far.
Have you viewed tapes of the Cuban boxer?
We have seen a fair bit of his videos. But more importantly, I have viewed him from ringside and I can say that Vijender is the better fighter. He should prevail today.
But the Cuban is a formidable opponent and two-time Pan American champion...
We have a Cuban coach in Iglesiaz Fernandes, who is well aware of what Cuban boxers are made of. We have also done a lot of our training in Cuba, where we have been visiting almost every year across half a decade. So, Vijender is prepared and knows exactly what to expect from his Cuban opponent.
So, are the strategies in place?
A lot of strategies may be planned before a bout but once you're in the ring it all changes. You have to fight according to the situation. Vijender's strength lies in his calm approach. If you saw his last bout, you would have noticed that he went about his job very calmly. There were no flashy shots but simple defences and then counters when required. Vijender has a strong defensive action. If you ask me, I think Vijender will make it count today. There's no stopping him and India.
Cuban Emilio is no cakewalk
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Emilio Correa Bayeaux | Earlier in the week, Australian Jarrod Fletcher (24) lost to Emilio Correa Bayeaux, Vijender Kumar's semi-final opponent, and praised the Cuban no end.
In fact, as Fletcher had beaten the Cuban only nine weeks before their Beijing appointment, he was quite shocked by what his opponent had to offer at the Workers Gymnasium here.
"He moved too well. I had to catch my feet, I was always chasing his tail. It just didn't matter what I did, he just kept finding answers. Cubans are not known as the best boxers in the world for nothing," Fletcher said after his bout.
Meanwhile, Cuba's coach Pedro Roque believes his ward will beat the Indian today. "Emilio is fighting very well. I'm sure he will win the semi-final," he told reporters here.
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