The sight of his American opponent in the ring on Tuesday might have stirred old memories in Vikas Krishan's mind, no matter it was a different day and a different rival.
Four years ago in London, Vikas, on his Olympic debut, was originally declared winner against Errol Spence, only to be told later that the result had been overturned on an American protest. It was a bitter blow, one from which he took a long time to recover.
On Tuesday, in the first round of the boxing event, the 24-year-old left nothing to chance. Fighting Charles Conwell, an 18-year-old debutant, the Bhiwani man executed his plans to near-perfection to run out a winner. The judges' verdict read 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 in Vikas' favour in the scoring system that follows the professional line these days.
Vikas did what he had planned to do, though he had to withstand a strong fightback from Conwell in the third round. "The strategy was to win the first two rounds," said the former Asian Games champion. "My opponent was younger, more powerful and had more strength. But I relied on my experience," he said.
Vikas, who had left the sport for one and a half years following his Olympic disappointment, was clever and calculative from the start. Evading Conwell's punches neatly, he hurt the American with his right, keeping him at bay. The first round was clearly in Vikas' pocket.
The second was a closer affair. A straight jab to the face pegged back Vikas but the Indian landed sharp blows on Conwell even as the shorter American tried to get under his guard.
Conwell did more in the third round and Vikas took some punishment, a jab to the face rocking the Indian. He was looking tired too as the round progressed but he hung on. Conwell seemed to have won the round but the judges' nodded in Vikas' favour.
"I had never seen him fight before, so I wanted to observe him before trying to dominate. He was bending down to hit and I expected the referee to warn him, but he did not," said Vikas, who now meets Turkey's Onder Sipal in the second round on Friday.
![]( "perfect start India's Vikas Krishan(right) lands a blow on American Charles Conwell during his 75kg opening round on Tuesday. pti")
The sight of his American opponent in the ring on Tuesday might have stirred old memories in Vikas Krishan’s mind, no matter it was a different day and a different rival.
Four years ago in London, Vikas, on his Olympic debut, was originally declared winner against Errol Spence, only to be told later that the result had been overturned on an American protest. It was a bitter blow, one from which he took a long time to recover.
On Tuesday, in the first round of the boxing event, the 24-year-old left nothing to chance. Fighting Charles Conwell, an 18-year-old debutant, the Bhiwani man executed his plans to near-perfection to run out a winner. The judges’ verdict read 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 in Vikas’ favour in the scoring system that follows the professional line these days.
Vikas did what he had planned to do, though he had to withstand a strong fightback from Conwell in the third round. "The strategy was to win the first two rounds,” said the former Asian Games champion. "My opponent was younger, more powerful and had more strength. But I relied on my experience,” he said.
Vikas, who had left the sport for one and a half years following his Olympic disappointment, was clever and calculative from the start. Evading Conwell’s punches neatly, he hurt the American with his right, keeping him at bay. The first round was clearly in Vikas’ pocket.
The second was a closer affair. A straight jab to the face pegged back Vikas but the Indian landed sharp blows on Conwell even as the shorter American tried to get under his guard.
Conwell did more in the third round and Vikas took some punishment, a jab to the face rocking the Indian. He was looking tired too as the round progressed but he hung on. Conwell seemed to have won the round but the judges’ nodded in Vikas’ favour.
"I had never seen him fight before, so I wanted to observe him before trying to dominate. He was bending down to hit and I expected the referee to warn him, but he did not,” said Vikas, who now meets Turkey’s Onder Sipal in the second round on Friday.
Four years ago in London, Vikas, on his Olympic debut, was originally declared winner against Errol Spence, only to be told later that the result had been overturned on an American protest. It was a bitter blow, one from which he took a long time to recover.
On Tuesday, in the first round of the boxing event, the 24-year-old left nothing to chance. Fighting Charles Conwell, an 18-year-old debutant, the Bhiwani man executed his plans to near-perfection to run out a winner. The judges' verdict read 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 in Vikas' favour in the scoring system that follows the professional line these days.
Vikas did what he had planned to do, though he had to withstand a strong fightback from Conwell in the third round. "The strategy was to win the first two rounds," said the former Asian Games champion. "My opponent was younger, more powerful and had more strength. But I relied on my experience," he said.
Vikas, who had left the sport for one and a half years following his Olympic disappointment, was clever and calculative from the start. Evading Conwell's punches neatly, he hurt the American with his right, keeping him at bay. The first round was clearly in Vikas' pocket.
The second was a closer affair. A straight jab to the face pegged back Vikas but the Indian landed sharp blows on Conwell even as the shorter American tried to get under his guard.
Conwell did more in the third round and Vikas took some punishment, a jab to the face rocking the Indian. He was looking tired too as the round progressed but he hung on. Conwell seemed to have won the round but the judges' nodded in Vikas' favour.
"I had never seen him fight before, so I wanted to observe him before trying to dominate. He was bending down to hit and I expected the referee to warn him, but he did not," said Vikas, who now meets Turkey's Onder Sipal in the second round on Friday.
The sight of his American opponent in the ring on Tuesday might have stirred old memories in Vikas Krishan’s mind, no matter it was a different day and a different rival.Four years ago in London, Vikas, on his Olympic debut, was originally declared winner against Errol Spence, only to be told later that the result had been overturned on an American protest. It was a bitter blow, one from which he took a long time to recover.
On Tuesday, in the first round of the boxing event, the 24-year-old left nothing to chance. Fighting Charles Conwell, an 18-year-old debutant, the Bhiwani man executed his plans to near-perfection to run out a winner. The judges’ verdict read 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 in Vikas’ favour in the scoring system that follows the professional line these days.
Vikas did what he had planned to do, though he had to withstand a strong fightback from Conwell in the third round. "The strategy was to win the first two rounds,” said the former Asian Games champion. "My opponent was younger, more powerful and had more strength. But I relied on my experience,” he said.
Vikas, who had left the sport for one and a half years following his Olympic disappointment, was clever and calculative from the start. Evading Conwell’s punches neatly, he hurt the American with his right, keeping him at bay. The first round was clearly in Vikas’ pocket.
The second was a closer affair. A straight jab to the face pegged back Vikas but the Indian landed sharp blows on Conwell even as the shorter American tried to get under his guard.
Conwell did more in the third round and Vikas took some punishment, a jab to the face rocking the Indian. He was looking tired too as the round progressed but he hung on. Conwell seemed to have won the round but the judges’ nodded in Vikas’ favour.
"I had never seen him fight before, so I wanted to observe him before trying to dominate. He was bending down to hit and I expected the referee to warn him, but he did not,” said Vikas, who now meets Turkey’s Onder Sipal in the second round on Friday.