Ahead of pro debut, Vijender makes gym his office

To make up his mind for the professional plunge was no big task but to be in perfect shape for the grind, star Indian boxer Vijender Singh is toiling 8 to 10 hours a day as he gears up for his much-awaited debut bout on October 10 in Manchester.

“It’s like going to an office except that it happens to be a gym in my case,” Vijender told PTI over <g data-gr-id="21">phone</g> from Manchester, detailing his training regimen for the eagerly-anticipated contest, <g data-gr-id="22">which .</g> “The day in the gym starts at 10-10:<g data-gr-id="19">30am</g>, there is a lunch break around <g data-gr-id="20">1pm</g> and then back to the gym for an evening session,” the 29-year-old said.

His voice slightly groggy owing to the cold he has caught, Vijender said a typical training day includes workout sessions, sparring sessions with different partners and rigorous swimming. “By the time I am done, I just crash. It is gruelling but I am enjoying the grind. My body hasn’t felt better,” said India’s first Olympics and World Championships medallist.  “How does it matter? In amateur boxing I used to know my opponent either a day before the bout or on the morning of the bout. Here, I hope to know who it is at least a week before the bout. That’s enough time because ultimately, it’s not about the opponent, it’s about me, how I cope with the challenge. I prefer to focus on myself,” he said confidently.