New Boxing format is tougher and riskier: Vijender

The new format of the boxing is tougher and riskier than the old format, said Olympic hero Vijender Singh who had won the bronze medal for India in Beijing Olympic last year.

Vijender, who returned to India on Monday after notching a bronze medal at the European Grand Prix event in Usti Nad Labem, Czech Republic, told media that the newly introduced format of boxing ‘is very hard to made score and also raise the chances of injury’.

Vijender, who lost in final and had to satisfy with only bronze, said that he was used to play in old styles since last seven-eight years and he lost because of that style which was not sufficient for making adequate points.

Vijender was playing in Europe after an eight-month long gap of Beijing Olympic and was not in his best form.

The newly introduced boxing pattern has been modified from four rounds of two minutes each to three rounds of three minutes each. Moreover, the judges give no points to on touch and go, but the fighter would have to knock strong punch on the contestant to claim for the points that also increase the chances of injury.

‘Boxers have become more defensive because it is tough test of your endurance and stamina, and the player must be super fit to win the game,’ said Vijender.

However, the new format is more exciting because it won’t allow too many intervals and intervene, he added.

With the first experience of European Grand Prix, Vijender is not ready for Asian Championship that is scheduled next month in China.

‘We are used to playing in Asian events and the experience of European Grand Prix will help me,’ he said expressing hope that his performance in the Asian Championship might be better.