Boxer Vikas Krishan believes in special plan at Tokyo Olympics
Despite falling short of a medal at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, Vikas Krishan wants to be third time lucky in Tokyo.
Veteran Indian boxer and two-time Olympian Vikas Krishan believes that the Tokyo Olympics postponement is part of a divine plan for him.
The middleweight boxer qualified for his third straight Summer Games at the Asian boxing Olympic qualifiers in Amman, Jordan in March.
The 2010 Asian Games gold medallist had qualified for the London 2012 Olympics when he was quite young and couldn’t go past the first round.
By the time Vikas Krishan qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympics, he was an Asian Championship silver medallist as well, but his journey ended in the quarter-finals.
However, the 28-year-old pugilist has now returned from the professional circuit with tons of experience for one last shot at Olympic glory.
“I was young, only 20 years old, when I took part in my first Olympics (2012). I didn’t have experience and now in hindsight, I feel it didn’t go well,” Vikas Krishan told the Olympic Channel.
“In 2012, I didn’t have as much endurance, while in 2016 I was 71kg competing in the 75kg categories.
“Hence, being in the ring against a guy five-six kgs above me was difficult and I still went past two rounds. But I felt my performance wasn’t that good,” the Bhiwani boxer said.
Apart from gaining experience, he has also become mentally strong. With Tokyo 2020 postponed shortly after Vikas Krishan qualified for the Olympics, he chose to look at the positives in it.
“The last two Olympics had happened on time (as scheduled) and I wasn’t able to win a medal. This time God has planned something better for me,” he reckoned.
“I was just getting back from professional boxing and wasn’t in good touch with amateur boxing. But now, I have time to plug the gaps,” he added.
Whatever it takes
A determined Vikas Krishan is leaving no stone unturned for Tokyo.
“I am on a proper diet, I have cut my weight and I am doing proper training as well. So, whatever it takes, I am doing everything,” the 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist said.
“If someone told me I have to give my life for an Olympic gold medal I am ready. I’ll say, ‘Take my life and give me an Olympic gold medal. Just let me live with it for one day,’” he said.