Cricket is a lazy game: Vijender Singh

The village lad from Bhiwani, Haryana has taken the boxing world by storm. He not only managed to win the bronze at the recently concluded Milan World Boxing Championship, but also went on to claim the top spot of middle-weight boxers in the world. He is proving to be a boon for the sport that for years had been languishing. Young, energetic, an Olympic bronze medalist, and now world’s number one, Vijender Singh had a chat with Swati Chaturvedi of Zee News on ‘Kahiye Janab’ about his game, his long journey of rigorous practice and more. Here are some of the excerpts of the interview. Swati: How are you feeling after becoming the World No 1? Vijender: It’s a nice feeling. I’m feeling elated. Swati: How much hard work went to achieve the No 1 position? Vijender: For the last 9-10 years, I have been doing Boxing like a ‘tapasya’. I practiced extremely hard so that I could be successful one day. It is due to this rigourous ‘tapasya’ that today I am in this position. Slowly and steadily, I am getting the desired results and people have started recognising me for my game. Swati: How do you feel after silencing you detractors, who doubted your ability after Beijing Olympics? Vijender: I always celebrate my win. After Beijing, I practiced extremely hard. And now with my win in Milan, I have managed to answer all my detractors. Now everyone knows me due to my pugilistic skills and talent. Swati: If not a boxer, what would you have been? Vijender: I think I would have been a soldier or in police force. Swati: Despite your Olympic sojourn, do you think the governments’ attitude towards boxing has changed? Vijender: Initially, the game was not much talked about. But after Bejing Olympics and now with the win in World Championship, the situation has drastically changed. Other boxers are also responsible for taking this sport forward. After our win in the World Boxing Championship the game is getting bigger. Swati: Now that you are famous, are you being approached by political parties for the forthcoming Haryana elections? Vijender: Yes, but right now I am not campaigning for any political party. I am focusing on my game. I am not interested in politics. Swati: You have been linked to big Bollywood heroines like Bipasha, Katrina and Kareena. Who is your favourite among them? Vijender: There’s nothing bad about being linked to them. I like all of them but I am a little bit partial to Bipasha. But I would look for a fresh face since all of these ladies have boy friends. Swati: After getting such huge success, are you on the look out for endorsements and big brands? Vijender: I am not the one who is looking, but endorsements are looking for me after my win in the World Championship. I have already endorsed products of big companies like Pepsico, Reliance etc. Swati: Do you envy cricket for all the attention it receives when all other sports are lurking behind? Vijender: After getting hit so much in the ring, the recognition that comes for a boxer is very thin as compared to a cricketer. I feel sad about it. Cricketers are acknowledged by common people and politicians alike. But we are not recognised. It hurts me. But I shall keep working hard and show my mettle. Swati: People worship cricket in India despite the fact that boxing demands heavy physical activity and is a bloody/ violent game? Vijender: Cricket is a lazy game. A lot of countries don’t give much importance to cricket, but love watching soccer or hockey as they are power packed sports. Boxing requires tremendous will power. Swati: Coming from a small place, MS Dhoni has scaled heights never ever thought of. Do you think anyone from boxing can reach such heights? Vijender: Cricket’s popularity is pretty much old but boxing is just in infancy in terms of popularity. The cricketers have only one World Cup to boast of but we have the Olympics medal. More than anything else I have full faith in my sport. Swati: In the ten years of your road to Beijing, how much help has the extended? Vijender: The entire spirit depends on self-interest. There was no help from anyone, not even the government. Things are still the same even after winning. Everything goes to the cricketers. For us, there are only fake awards and fake promises. Swati: What motivates you to keep going? Vijender: Name and fame. Boxing should also get the same amount of recognition as cricket gets. Swati: How do you prepare yourself mentally before a match? Vijender: You should have 100% mental domination over your opponent. There should be a proper mental and physical co-ordination. One should make a strategy and visualize properly before every game. Swati: It is rumoured that Akshay Kumar has offered you to act in movies. Do you want to be a No1 actor? Vijender: I have never wanted to be an actor. My dream is only to be the boxer No 1. Akshay is a dear friend. He has offered me an alternative option of acting when I would not be good enough for boxing. Swati: Who is your favorite boxer of all time? Vijender: Mike Tyson, Muhammed Ali and a few more of them. Swati: The game of boxing has also its downs. Muhammed Ali became a patient of Parkinsons, Tyson earned bad name for himself etc. Do you fear that one day this game may let you down? Vijender: These players are great men, I respect them. I am not scared of the punches in the ring. The game is slowly and gradually changing for better. Just wait and watch. I want to take boxing to newer heights. It’s a long way to go. Adaptation by: Sushmita Dutta