Bhiwani:Even in his semi-final loss, Haryana's Bhiwani town Friday celebrated the bronze medal won by boxer Vijender Kumar. But the celebrations were subdued compared to Wednesday when he won his quarterfinal round.

"We will give him a hero's welcome when he returns here. He has made the nation proud by winning the bronze medal in the Olympics. He will definitely win gold in the Commonwealth Games," Vijender's mother Krishna said, even as his loss in the semi-final seemed to have disappointed her a little.

"I will make him stronger for next time. We will serve him kheer and churma," she added.

Vijender's relatives, friends, fellow boxers and hundreds of others who gathered at his residence in Kaluwas village near here Friday to witness his semi-final bout were disappointed after he went down 5-8 to Cuban's Emilio Carlos.

A special projection screen had been put up outside Vijender's residence under a tent to enable people to watch the match.

School and college students in this town had Friday missed classes to view the boxing match in the afternoon.

"He is our hero even in this loss. This is India's first medal in boxing. We are proud of him," Vijender's sisters Sangeeta and Poonam said.

Relatives still distributed sweets, which had been brought in anticipation of a victory.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who too watched the match, said he was not disappointed.

"He has fought and done well. We should not be disappointed. The boxers from Bhiwani have made the country proud. We will open a boxing academy in Bhiwani to encourage more youngsters to take to the sport," Hooda said.

 

Source : IANS