Vikas returns to amateur fold with South Asian Games, says next pro stint after Tokyo 2020

Decorated Indian boxer Vikas Krishan has me his first breakthrough in amateur circuit since putting his professional career on hold by getting selected for upcoming South Asian Games (SAG) in Nepal in a new weight category. 27-year-old, who fought two winning bouts in US pro circuit before returning to amateur fold earlier this year, told PTI that he would t attempt ar professional stint until after 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Vikas also revealed that he will w compete in 69kg category inste of 75kg, division in which he won a gold medal in Commonwealth Games last year in Gold Coast.

"I have decided to compete in 69kg category because that is my division in professional circuit as well," Vikas, who won his 2011 world championship bronze in 69kg division, said. 

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South Asian Games are scheduled in Kathmandu and Pokhara, starting with opening ceremony on December 1. Vikas h turned pro after Asian Games last year, signing up with Hall of Famer Bob Arum's Top Rank Promotions in USA. He won two bouts before a back injury forced him to reevaluate his goals.

"It wasn't easy. Professional boxing is about hitting continuously in ring, which requires los of stamina and I realised that I need to work a bit more on that before considering a full-time stint," he said. 

"I will w give it a shot after 2020 Olympic Games and my focus is only on claiming a spot for Tokyo. I am preparing hard for Qualifiers in February next year," he ded.

Asked about challenge of going down a rung in his weight division, Vikas said he is comfortable with it. Haryana-boxer h a decent run in category before moving up to 75kg in 2014.  Indian boxing's High-Performance Director Santiago Nieva said he expects Vikas to do well despite recent back injury and change in weight category.  "Vikas has been in national camp since July and has shaped up well. decision to move to 69kg was a well thought out one and he discussed it with me. He was always a bit underweight for 75kg. So I guess move should work out fine for him," Nieva said. 

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India's entry in 69kg category for Olympic qualifiers will be decided by a trial as ne from country could fetch a medal at world championships earlier this year.  "I am prepared for that. I rarely fail when I focus on something and all my focus is on Olympic qualifiers w," Vikas said. Nieva asserted: "He has to go through same system as everyone else. We will get a hang of where he stands by is a performance at SAG and if he makes it to trials, he has to win his place by fighting it out with ors."  Besides Vikas, Indian men's team for SAG also features Manish Kaushik, who claimed a bronze in world championships this year in Russia. Kaushik, assured of a spot in Olympic Qualifiers in 63kg division, will compete in 64kg category at SAG. six-strong women's team will be spearheed by two-time world silver-medallist Sonia Lar (57kg) and former Commonwealth Games bronze-winner Pinki Rani (51kg).

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Teams

Women: Kalaivani Srinivasan (48Kg), Pinki Rani (51Kg), Shiksha (54Kg), Sonia Lar (57Kg), Parveen (60Kg), Manju Bamboriya (64Kg).

Men: Vid Tanwar (49Kg), Sparsh Kumar (52Kg), Sachin (56Kg), Varinder Singh (60Kg), Manish Kaushik (64Kg), Vikas Krishan (69Kg), Ankit Khatana (75Kg), Sachin Kumar (81Kg), Gaurav Chauhan (91Kg), Narender (+91Kg). 

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