NAME- VIJENDER SINGH
DOB- OCTOBER 29, 1985
DISCIPLINE – BOXING
STATE- HARYANA
Achievements
OLYMPICS GAMES
Bronze medal in 2008 Beijing (Middleweight)
COMMONWEALTH GAMES
Silver medal in 2006 Melbourne (Welterweight)
Bronze medal in 2010 Delhi (Middleweight)
Silver medal in 2014 Glasgow (Middleweight)
ASIAN GAMES
Gold medal in 2010 Guangzhou (Middleweight)
Bronze medal in 2006 Doha (Middleweight)
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
2009 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Milan - Bronze medal
2008 Beijing Olympic Games - Bronze medal
2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne - Silver medal
2006 Asian Games in Doha - Bronze medal.
AWARDS
Padma Shri in 2010
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2009
Top-ranked boxer in annual middle-weight (75 kg) category by International Boxing Association (AIBA).
PROFILE
Vijender Singh Beniwal also known as Vijender Singh or Vijender Beniwal, is an Indian Olympic boxer from Kaluwas village, Bhiwani district in Haryana. He was educated in his village, after which he received a bachelor’s degree from a local college in Bhiwani. He practised boxing at the Bhiwani Boxing Club where coach Jagdish Singh recognised his talent and encouraged him to take to boxing as sport. Later, he was coached by the Indian boxing coach Gurbaksh Singh Sandhu.
Vijender had to undergo several hardships before he got this fame and fortune. In 1990, Raj Kumar Sangwan received the Arjuna Award. Getting inspired by him, Vijender and his brother decided to take up boxing as their career. They thought it would help them earn some money for home. However, in 1998 his elder brother got selected in Indian Army. He joined the forces and later gave Vijender all the monetary help that he needed to pursue his dream. He went on to compete at the sub-junior nationals where he won silver medal consecutively for two years.
Later, he was picked to train and compete at Athens Summer Olympics' 2004 and the Commonwealth Games' 2006. In Asian Games' 2006 in Doha, he was the winner of bronze medal after losing the semifinal bout against Kazakhstan's Bakhtiyar Artayev.
Vijender father Mahipal Singh Beniwal is a bus driver and used to drive extra hours to support his family financially. His mother is a housewife. Vijender Singh is married to Archana Singh.
Vijender Singh, the pin-up boy of Indian boxing, made his Bollywood debut with the social thriller film "Fugly". The film is directed by Kabir Sadanand. It was produced by Akshay Kumar's production company Grazing Goat Pictures.
Compiled by Raj Veer Singh
