Chill winter turn him from swimmer into boxer: Kanwarpreet Singh
8 May 2012 4:28 PM GMT
He was training to become a swimmer but nudged by the harsh north Indian winter chill and pushed by Vijender Singh, 19-year-old Kanwarpreet Singh took to boxing and has managed to fetch a bronze medal in his maiden senior international event.
The sturdy Punjab-boxer, who competes in the +91kg category, donned the gloves just two years ago after being asked to try his luck in the ring by Olympic and World Championships bronze-medallist Vijender Singh.
Back in the country after competing in his maiden senior international event -- the President's Cup in Kazakhstan where he fetched a bronze -- Kanwarpreet is glad that he made the transition from the pool to ring.
'I was actually into swimming and it was only two years ago that I started boxing and I am glad that the start at the senior level has not been too bad,'Â said the silver-medallist from the junior national championships.
'The harsh north Indian winter made it difficult to continue training for swimming in Patiala. Besides, I also happened to get in touch with Vijender, who asked me to give boxing a shot as he felt I had a good physique,' recalled the youngster.
'I took his advice because he is such an icon and it has worked out well for me,' he added.
Even while being a swimmer, Kanwarpreet said he was in close contact with the boxers.
'I would do my running exercises with the boxers and would have chats with Vijender. He really motivated me and I am so happy with how things have turned out,' said the second year graduation student, who won a silver and a bronze in a couple of junior national swimming events.
The only child of his family, Kanwarpreet said his parents never had a problem with him taking up a contact sport as he would often get into fights in school.
'They thought I was better off fighting in the ring instead of fighting just like that. They were quite supportive of my decision,' laughed the boxer, whose sub-inspector father has been a hammer thrower at the departmental level.
The sturdy Punjab-boxer, who competes in the +91kg category, donned the gloves just two years ago after being asked to try his luck in the ring by Olympic and World Championships bronze-medallist Vijender Singh.
Back in the country after competing in his maiden senior international event -- the President's Cup in Kazakhstan where he fetched a bronze -- Kanwarpreet is glad that he made the transition from the pool to ring.
'I was actually into swimming and it was only two years ago that I started boxing and I am glad that the start at the senior level has not been too bad,'Â said the silver-medallist from the junior national championships.
'The harsh north Indian winter made it difficult to continue training for swimming in Patiala. Besides, I also happened to get in touch with Vijender, who asked me to give boxing a shot as he felt I had a good physique,' recalled the youngster.
'I took his advice because he is such an icon and it has worked out well for me,' he added.
Even while being a swimmer, Kanwarpreet said he was in close contact with the boxers.
'I would do my running exercises with the boxers and would have chats with Vijender. He really motivated me and I am so happy with how things have turned out,' said the second year graduation student, who won a silver and a bronze in a couple of junior national swimming events.
The only child of his family, Kanwarpreet said his parents never had a problem with him taking up a contact sport as he would often get into fights in school.
'They thought I was better off fighting in the ring instead of fighting just like that. They were quite supportive of my decision,' laughed the boxer, whose sub-inspector father has been a hammer thrower at the departmental level.
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