vijender Singh was born on 29 October 1985 at Kalwas (Bhiwani District) in Haryana. Bhiwani Boxing Club, now known to every boxer in India, was where he practiced boxing under Jagdish Singh. He started early at the age of 12 years, participating in various state level competitions. He was later selected to play at the national level. Many saw the potential in him to do India proud on the International platform. Virender Singh had the zeal in him to excel at the international arena. He was selected to participate in the Athens Olympics in 2004 and Commonwealth Games in 2006. 2006 Asian Games in Doha saw him win a bronze medal. However, the best moment for him as well as India came in the Beijing Olympics 2008 where he won a first medal (bronze) ever for India in boxing.
He comes from a small village in Haryana. Vijender joined as a Senior Railways Ticket Examiner at Jaipur. Vijender’s family owns no land. His father, a driver with Haryana Roadways, owns a small house in the village along the Meham-Bhiwani road. Vijender’s cash rewards for his medals in various international meets have helped the family build a house with all the trappings of a comfortable urban dwelling.
Vijender studied in Vaish College in Bhiwani and is a graduate. Vijender’s mother Krishna always ensured that he got all the proper diet that he needed to make him strong. Though, being just able to make both the ends meet, the family was supportive of his sport. His elder brother Manoj succeeded to enter into the Indian Army in 1998 with his boxing credentials and decided to support Vijender financially so he could continue his boxing training.
Vijender Singh was ranked at number 1 in the world, in the middleweight category in 2009. He also has been honored with the highest sporting honor of India, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award. Padma Shree too was added to his list of honors in 2010.
Vijender Singh is one of India’s hopes of a medal in the ongoing Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010.
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