WION Broadband Olympics Edition: Bhiwani boy becomes a global star

There was a wave of optimism surrounding Indian Boxing ahead of the 2008 Olympics. Akhil Kumar was a strong medal contender but while he and Jitender Kumar lost in the medal rounds, Vijender Singh took centre stage as he won a Bronze in the Men’s 75kg event. Singh had taken up the sport to secure a government job, his medal at Beijing made him one of India’s most loved icons.