Vijender Singh pumped up by border row ahead of bout with Chinese boxer

Vijender Singh

Thousands of miles away from India, in Manchester, Vijender Singh gets upset watching the news on TV every evening after a hard day's workout in preparation for his Battleground Asia bout against China's WBO Oriental Super Middleweight champ Zulpikar Maimaitiali to be held in Mumbai on August 5.

Interestingly however, it's not sports news that the 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medal-winner catches up on, but rather political issues.

Also read: Dangal story is similar to mine, says China boxer Zulpikar Maimaitiali

China's Zulpikar Maimaitiali

Vijender is keenly following the escalating Indo-China border tension reports over the last few days and is seething. He is now keen to vent all his anger on his Chinese opponent at the NSCI Dome in Worli, Mumbai a month from now.

Also read - Vijender Singh on Zulpikar Maimaitiali: I'll beat this kid easily

Viju's army background
"I'm angered by watching the news here in the UK. Chinese soldiers are encroaching on our border and even pushing and shoving our soldiers. This is totally unfair. It hurts me more because I come from Haryana and our state has always contributed richly to the Indian army. My grandfather, Dariyal Singh was a subhedar major in the Jatt Regiment," Vijender tells mid-day over the phone from the UK last evening. In fact, the ongoing border tension with China is serving as extra motivation for Vijender as he sweats it out for over five hours a day with trainer Lee Beard.

Added incentive
"Given the current scenario on our border with China, I'm definitely more pumped up to fight that Chinese guy now. Professionally, he's got eight wins out of eight, just like me, but now I have an added incentive to beat him. So, what if I'm not wearing the Indian army greens, I believe I can contribute for my country in my own way here.

India boxer Vijender Singh during a training session in Manchester yesterday

"Just as our soldiers are doing well to keep these Chinese guys away from India and back in their own country, it's my turn now to beat this Chinese boxer and send him back to his country," added the reigning WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight champion.

Also read: WBO sanctions Vijender Singh vs Zulpikar Maimaitiali fight in first week of August

Unless things are 'fixed' however, sport can stun even the best of athletes with a defeat just as it garlands you with a victory. So has India's most famous boxer bitten off more than he can chew by making such a strong political statement? What if he loses?

"Well, haven't you heard the song that plays whenever I enter the ring - Singh is King? God-willing, I will be king of Asia on August 5," he signs off. Vijender, 31, also took to Twitter a couple of days back to announce his anti-China intentions, and his comments were well received by his followers.

"Enough of shadow boxing, it's time 2 show China what India is capable of in the ring on 5th Aug 2017 at Mumbai! #IndiaChina," the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games gold medal-winning boxer wrote to his 1.23 million followers. The post received almost 2000 'likes'.