Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Vijender Singh’s Journey From Olympic Bronze to Boxing Legacy
Vijender Singh grew up in Haryana, where his family had little money.
His brother’s Army pay helped him afford boxing training.
In 2008, Singh won an Olympic bronze medal, bringing attention to Indian boxing.
He later won other medals and became a professional boxer.
He also challenged a contract that limited whom he could work with.
The article says he earned money through advertisements and has supported sports and community projects.
Singh has said he hopes to build a boxing academy in his home village.
He also spoke in support of farmers protesting in 2020.
His career has included boxing, business and public causes.
Raised in a family with limited means in Haryana, Vijender Singh trained at Bhiwani Boxing Club with support from his elder brother Manoj.
Singh won an Olympic boxing bronze medal at Beijing 2008, India’s first Olympic medal in the sport, according to the article.
His amateur career included a 2009 World Championships bronze, 2010 Asian Games gold and 2014 Commonwealth Games silver.
After a dispute over his sports-management contract, Singh went professional in 2015 and won his first 12 professional fights.
The profile also discusses his endorsements, reported community work, plans for a boxing academy in Kaluwas and public support for farmers’ protests.
- Who
- Indian boxer Vijender Singh, whose elder brother Manoj also helped support his early training.
- What
- A profile of Singh’s boxing career, contract dispute, professional career and activities outside the ring.
- When
- His Olympic bronze came in 2008; he turned professional in 2015, and the article also describes events through 2020 and later plans.
- Where
- Singh’s story is rooted in Kaluwas village and Bhiwani district, Haryana; his Olympic medal came in Beijing.
- Why
- The profile examines how Singh’s boxing success developed into public recognition and opportunities beyond the sport.
Supporters of Singh’s choices
Critics and skeptics
Turning professional
Supporters of Singh’s choices
The profile presents the move as a career choice that opened professional opportunities, including title fights.
Critics and skeptics
The article says some amateur boxing supporters viewed the move as a betrayal, since Singh gave up the chance to compete at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Endorsements
Supporters of Singh’s choices
The profile argues that endorsements helped Singh build a public profile and showed that athletes outside cricket could attract commercial work.
Critics and skeptics
The article notes that some critics say Singh has sold out through his varied endorsements.
- Olympic achievement
- Bronze medal at Beijing 2008
- Early training
- Bhiwani Boxing Club, under coach Jagdish Singh
- Other amateur results
- 2009 World Championships bronze; 2010 Asian Games gold; 2014 Commonwealth Games silver
- Professional debut
- Turned professional in 2015; the article says he won his first 12 fights
- Professional titles
- WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight title in 2016 and WBO Oriental title in 2017
- Election affidavit
- Reported assets of ₹8.62 crore when he contested the South Delhi Lok Sabha seat in 2019
- Academy proposal
- Singh told PTI he had submitted a proposal to the Sports Ministry for an academy in Kaluwas