The Cuban was no pushover, coming as he does from a strong Caribbean boxing tradition. His father won a gold in boxing in the 1972 Munich Games.

But the semi-final defeat returns Vijender to the benefits that come with international experience. It was, for instance, not bravado when he said after his pre-quarterfinal win over Thailand’s Angkhan Chomphuphuang that he does not lose to the same boxer twice. Today, he says, he will be better prepared if he meets Bayeaux again.

So, the disappointment of this afternoon is not cause for disheartenment. And the scene outside the athletes’ entrance at the Workers’ Gymnasium attested to that, as Indian fans and Haryana politicians milled around festively.

There were reportedly other words of encouragement. Former world champion Evander Holyfield, who was once again at the stadium today, was impressed and praised Vijender. I would have met him if I knew he was there, says the Bhiwani boy.

But the inspiration for his bronze, he explains, was the dashed Olympics dream of another Indian, Gurcharan Singh. In the 2000 Sydney Games, Singh lost a place in the semi-finals on a countback. (In case the scores are tied, for each boxer the highest and lowest scores of the five judges are erased, and the winner found from the scores of the remaining three.) It was a heartbreaking moment for Indian boxing, and Vijender says of that day eight years ago: “I cried.”

Fulfilling dreams

Singh subsequently moved to the United States, but Vijender has kept in touch. “Today,” he says, “I have fulfilled his dream.”

... contd.