Ex-coach Sandhu predicts historic medal haul in boxing

Sandhu was in charge of the Indian men’s team for more than two decades and he also served as the women’s head coach for just about a year before retiring in 2017

It was under his tutelage that Indian boxers delivered some unparalleled medal hauls and former national coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu believes history will be re-written in Tokyo with the country winning more than one Olympic medal in boxing for the very first time.

Till date, India has two medals in boxing—the 2008 Beijing bronze from Vijender Singh and the 2012 London Games bronze from MC Mary Kom. 

Sandhu, 68, was the national men’s coach in both the editions. The Dronacharya awardee, who is now enjoying retired life, predicted an extraordinary performance from the nine who have qualified. The Games get underway on July 23. “I believe we will win more than one medal for the first time in Tokyo and also the colour of the medals could be better than bronze. I have followed the progress of this group, I know them as well because I was still around when a some of them came into the camp. It is going to be a history-making Olympics if all goes well,” Sandhu said.

Sandhu was in charge of the Indian men’s team for more than two decades and he also served as the women’s head coach for just about a year before retiring in 2017. It was during his tenure that Vijender became India’s first men’s world championship medallist with a bronze in 2009.

The boxers did draw a blank in the 2016 Rio Olympics though and Sandhu was in charge of the team at that time. “I am 100 per cent sure that Tokyo will heal the pain of Rio. It was a disappointing Games but this time, it is going to be different,” he said.

“Training has been well looked after. Coaches have worked hard. The announcement of prize money by state governments also adds to the motivation. Everything that has been demanded has been taken care of and now it is the athletes’ turn to give back,” he added.

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