BEIJING: They may sound a tad too over-confident but you can't really blame them given the sudden superstar status they have received back home thanks to their Olympic heroics. The Indian boxing contingent is already eyeing greater glory in the future.

Indian boxers Akhil Kumar (54 kg Bantamweight), Jitender Kumar (51 kg Flyweight) and Vijender Singh (75 kg Middleweight) have undoubtedly done the country proud having finished among the top eight boxers top four in the case of Vijender in the world here. But the trio are well aware that they have to now live up to higher expectations back home. And they are ready to work hard for it.

"We have previously won medals in the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games too, but one thing we realised here is that winning at the Olympics is above everything else.

High expectations

"People will now want us to win everything which is not possible but we are willing to try hard. The level of competition here is of the highest level and reaching the last eight has boosted our self-belief that we can do even better now.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games is the ideal platform for us to shine once again. And a good showing here will keep us in good stead for the London 2012 Games," said Akhil, who missed out on the bronze losing in the quarter-finals. Jitender too missed the third place medal.

Vijender however created history with his bronze medal win, going down to Cuban Emilio Bayeaux Correa in the semi-finals. The soft-spoken, handsome Vijender is still revelling in the after effects of his prized possession. "It won't sink in so easily. After all I've made history. I must work even harder now as I have to continue my good run of form," he said.

Coaches Iglesias Fernandes of Cuba and national coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu however prefer to caution their lads. "While coming up with a good win suddenly may be a good thing, but it is important to ensure the winning habit is continued. Practice and more practice only makes perfect," said Iglesias.

"There will be a lot of celebrations back home when we land in India. But they have to keep their feet on the ground. This team is ready to do better with time to come. Watch them in 2012," said Sandhu.