For the first time in Indian boxing, former Asian games Gold medalist Vikas Krishan will be awarded the prestigious Best Boxer award. The award would be presented by International Boxing Association for his performance this year. This would also mark world Boxing bodies 70th anniversary celebrations on 20th December.
“In recognition of your exemplary achievements throughout the year, AIBA would like to use the occasion to present you with the 2016 AIBA Pro Boxing Best Boxer award,” AIBA President wrote in a letter sent to the two-time Olympian Vikas Krishan.
Early Life
The 24 year old ace boxer is currently in New Jersey, USA. He has been training there for more than a fortnight to prepare for the season ahead. Vikas has come a long way since he first started boxing. Yadav was born in Singhwa Khas village in Hisar district. His father Krishan Kumar Yadav is an employee in the Electricity Department. In 1994 he came to Bhiwani along with his father, who was transferred to this city. In 2003, at the age of 10, Yadav joined the Bhiwani Boxing Club. Later, he received training in the Army Sports Institute at Pune.
The much awarded boxer has competed in two bouts this year. He was unfortunate to lose his first bout but compensated for it in his second game. After losing the first game he went on to beat Kenya’s Nickson Abaka in the second bout that was held in Delhi which was conducted by the Professional Boxing Organisation of India (PBOI). Abaka is currently placed 8th in the AIBA APB rankings.
When contacted by journalist Vikas Krishan said “It is a huge honour but I am not particularly happy because I have already missed what I really wanted this year and that is an Olympic medal.” The Haryana Lad had gone down in the quarter finals of the Rio Olympics and had to settle for a bronze medal.
His Take
“I am told I am the first Indian boxer to get such an award. That is a great thing but I cannot say that it makes me very happy because the Olympic disappointment is still there,” the Haryana boxer said.
“I have decided to set small goals for myself. So right now I am focusing on the World Championships next year. Tokyo Olympics is far off and by that time I intend to have a flawless game. I am training like a professional boxer so that I master the art of defense,” he said.
“I want to build a momentum which carries me through. In 2019 when the Olympic qualifiers start, I want to be the first Indian boxer to qualify so that I get enough time to plan. I qualified too late for Rio, just a couple of months before the Games. I don’t want that to happen again,” he said.
MC Mary Kom would also be facilitated with the “Legends Award” in recognition towards her contribution to the sport during the same event.
