Beijing, Aug 22 (PTI) Vijender could not be the alchemist and turn his bronze into gold but today's semifinal defeat could not deny him the honour of being India's first Olympic medal winning boxer।
Cuban Emilio Correa Bayeaux simply outsmarted the Indian 8-5 to win the 75kg category semifinal in a comprehensive manner and the outcome meant Vijender had to be content with the bronze, which he was already assured of।
The Cuban negated Vijender's height and reach advantages by playing from a distance। He simply did not allow Vijender land a single blow in the first, third and fourth rounds.
Even two penalty points in the final round could not make any difference for the Cuban had tilted the game in his favour a long away।
Surprisingly, barring the second round, Vijender held himself back throughout the bout and mostly sprayed his punches।
Emilio, son of 1972 Munich Games gold medallist Emilio Correa Vaillant, was precise with his blows। He did not resort to wild arm swinging or uppercuts but relied mostly on straight punches, which paid him rich dividends.
Clearly the faster of the two, Emilio led 3-0 early in the second round and though a desperate Vijender managed to reduce the gap to 4-3 by the end of the round, the Cuban proved his superiority again in the lop-sided third round that virtually sealed the fate of the bout।
"Once he went 3-0 ahead, a comeback was always difficult. I tried my best and reduced the gap in the second round but could not really pull it off," a dejected Vijender said after the bout.
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