Commonwealth Games 2014: Vijender Singh moves into 75-kg final; Mandeep Jangra in 69-kg final

Vijender Singh fights Connor Coyle in the semifinals of the 75 Kg category

India’s boxing icon Vijender Singh showed his class as he beat Northern Ireland’s Connor Coyle to reach the final of the middle weight category (75 kg) at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. The star Indian pugilist used a tactical mix of aggression and defence to keep his Irish opponent on the backfoot. Coyle struggled to land clean punches on Vijender, who threw clinical punches to race ahead in the first round.

The Irishman tried to come out with all guns blazing in the second round, but Vijender used all his experience to keep him at bay and once the Indian was ahead on points going into the final round, it was pretty clear that Coyle had a lot of catching up to do.

Vijender upped the ante in the final round to put a seal on confirmation on his domination, securing a smooth passage to the final. This is Vijender’s third successive Commonwealth Games medal – he had won a silver in the 2006 edition in Melbourne in the welterweight category and a bronze in the 2010 edition in New Delhi. The Bhiwani lad now has a great opportunity to change the colour of the medal. Vijender now faces Anthony Flower of England in the final.

His state-mate Mandeep Jangra also made into the final of the of the welter weight category (69 kg), outboxing Ireland’s Stephen Donnelly, thus ensuring that four Indians will vie for gold.