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Vijender Singh

Overview

Vijender Singh Beniwal, commonly known as Vijender Singh, is an Indian professional boxer and former amateur boxer who became the first Indian to win an Olympic medal in boxing. He achieved this feat at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he secured a bronze medal in the middleweight (75 kg) category. He later transitioned to professional boxing in 2015 and has competed in multiple international bouts under various promotional banners.

Key Facts

Full Name Vijender Singh Beniwal
Born 29 October 1985
Birthplace Kaluwas, Bhiwani district, Haryana, India
Nationality Indian
Sport Boxing
Weight Class Middleweight / Super Middleweight
Stance Orthodox
Olympic Medal Bronze, 2008 Beijing (Middleweight)
Profession Professional boxer; previously employed with Haryana Police
Awards Arjuna Award (2006), Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (2009), Padma Shri (2010)

Background

Vijender Singh was born on 29 October 1985 in Kaluwas village in Bhiwani district of Haryana, a region long associated with India's amateur boxing tradition. His father, Mahipal Singh, was a bus driver with the Haryana Roadways. Vijender trained at the Bhiwani Boxing Club under coach Jagdish Singh, an institution that produced several other notable Indian boxers including Akhil Kumar and Jitender Kumar.

He completed his schooling in Bhiwani and pursued higher education at Vaish College, Bhiwani. He was inducted into the Haryana Police as a Sub-Inspector and was later promoted in recognition of his sporting achievements.

Amateur Career

Vijender represented India at multiple international amateur tournaments before achieving his Olympic breakthrough.

  • 2003 Afro-Asian Games (Hyderabad): Silver medal.
  • 2004 Athens Olympics: Made his Olympic debut but lost in the first round of the welterweight category.
  • 2006 Commonwealth Games (Melbourne): Bronze medal in middleweight.
  • 2006 Doha Asian Games: Bronze medal.
  • 2008 Beijing Olympics: Bronze medal in middleweight (75 kg), becoming the first Indian boxer to win an Olympic medal.
  • 2009 World Amateur Boxing Championships (Milan): Bronze medal, becoming the first Indian boxer to medal at the World Championships.
  • 2010 Commonwealth Games (Delhi): Gold medal in middleweight.
  • 2010 Asian Games (Guangzhou): Gold medal.
  • 2014 Commonwealth Games (Glasgow): Silver medal.

At one point, the AIBA ranked him the world's number one amateur boxer in the middleweight division.

Professional Career

In June 2015, Vijender signed a multi-year promotional contract with Queensberry Promotions, headed by British promoter Frank Warren, and shifted his training base to Manchester, United Kingdom. He made his professional debut on 10 October 2015 at the Manchester Arena, defeating Sonny Whiting by a fourth-round technical knockout.

On 16 July 2016, he won the WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight title by defeating Australian boxer Kerry Hope. He later added the WBO Oriental Super Middleweight title to his collection. He has fought in venues across India, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Dubai, contributing to the visibility of professional boxing in India.

Honours and Recognition

  • Arjuna Award (2006) — for outstanding performance in boxing.
  • Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (2009) — India's highest sporting honour at the time.
  • Padma Shri (2010) — fourth-highest civilian award of India.

Other Activities

Vijender has appeared in Hindi cinema, including the 2014 film Fugly. He contested the 2019 Indian general election from the South Delhi constituency on an Indian National Congress ticket but was unsuccessful. He has also been associated with various endorsements and was once embroiled in a 2013 narcotics investigation in Punjab in which no charges against him were established.

Significance

Vijender Singh's 2008 Olympic bronze is regarded as a landmark in Indian boxing, opening the way for greater institutional support, sponsorship, and television coverage of the sport in India. His success, alongside that of contemporaries like Mary Kom and Akhil Kumar, helped spotlight Bhiwani as the so-called "Little Cuba" of Indian boxing. His move to professional boxing in 2015 was among the first such high-profile transitions by an Indian Olympic boxer.

References

  • International Olympic Committee, athlete profile and results database.
  • International Boxing Association (AIBA) historical records.
  • Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs — Padma Awards announcements.
  • Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports — National Sports Awards records.
  • BoxRec professional boxing record database.