Vijender Singh wants to beat Russian Artysh for his best friend Jai Bhagwan

India’s star boxer Vijender wants to win fight against Artysh Lopsan for his best friend-cum-coach Bhagwan

While India’s top professional boxer Vijender Singh wants to win Friday’s fight against Russian Artysh Lopsan in Goa’s capital city here to take his unbeaten run to 13-0, he also has a strong personal reason to do so.
 
Vijender, 35, wants to win this contest for his best friend, Jai Bhagwan, 37, who has become his coach-cum-sparring partner for this fight after the champion pugilist could not avail the services of his international coaches due to the COVID-19 restrictions. 

“He is Jai and I’m Viju, so our close friends call us Jai-Viru ki jodi [from the Bollywood blockbuster Sholay starring Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra as best friends]. I have known Jai for over 20 years. He is also from Bhiwani, so we have practically grown up together. He was also an amateur boxer like me and represented the country at the [2012] London Olympics. Jai has worked very hard on me for this fight. I want to win this for him,” Vijender told mid-day after a sparring session with Bhagwan at the Salvador do Mundo Boxing Hall here on Wednesday. 

Artysh Lopsan. Pic/PTI

Bhagwan elaborated on his relationship with Vijender. “We used to be roommates at the NIS [National Institute of Sport in Patiala] for years during our national boxing camp days, so I know Viju inside out and that helps me understand him better as a professional boxer too. Whenever Viju takes his black Harley Davidson motorbike out in Delhi, I go along with him for a ride just like Jai-Viru did on their black bike in Sholay. We both like Bollywood movies and songs too,” said Bhagwan with a smile. 

Jokes apart however, Bhagwan admitted that he’s under tremendous pressure to live up to the tag of being Vijender’s coach. “I haven’t slept for days. I am more nervous than Viju because critics are always waiting to pounce on those who fail,” said Bhagwan, his smile disappearing in an instant. 

Vijender however, reassured his friend. “Oye, fikar na kar [don’t worry], I’ll win this one for sure,” he said, throwing his arm around Bhagwan’s shoulder. “I have no doubt about that but I want you to win it in three or four rounds, don’t let it go to the full eight rounds,” Bhagwan shot back at Vijender even as the duo got back into the ring to continue their intense sparring session. 

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