Indian Boxer Vijender Qualifies for London Olympics

Indian boxer Vijender Singh qualified for the 2012 London Olympics by advancing to the semi-finals of 75 kgs weight category at the Asian Olympic qualifying event in Astana, Kazakhstan on Sunday, April 9, 2012.

The Beijing Olympics bronze medalist beat 2011 Asian Championship silver medalist Chuluuntumur Tumurkhyag of Mongolia in the quarterfinals to secure the all important Olympic quota.

The victory also assured the former World No.1 of at least a bronze from the qualification tournament. The 26-year-old became the fifth Indian boxer to make the London Games after Vikas Krishnan (69kg), Manoj Kumar (64kg), Jai Bhagwan (60kg) and rookie Devendro Singh (49kg).

The first four quota places came in the qualification competition in October at the World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Vijender will now take on Nursahat Pazziyev of Turkmenistan for a place in the finals.