The Return of Iron Fists
Sports Illustrated India|December 2016

Their unique boxing styles won them many medals and fans across the country. India’s two top boxers, Akhil Kumar and Jitender Kumar, are set to step into the ring as professionals, following in the footsteps of fellow pugilist Vijender Singh.

Priyanka Sharma
The Return of Iron Fists
The ring has been his comfort zone for the past 22 years. You could see it in Akhil Kumar’s face as he posed for the photo shoot at the Sehat World fitness centre in Dwarka, New Delhi. The centre has a training ring besides the latest fitness equipment and the 35-year-old boxer, who looks heavier and older, displayed his favourite punches while junior partner Jitender Kumar and a handful of trainees cheered him from the corners.

This is something the duo has been doing of late—posing punches for the media—and they are enjoying the limelight again. Their decision to turn professional has brought the focus back on them. They were the golden boys of Indian boxing back in 2008. The memories of their famous wins against top-ranked pugilists—then World No. 1 Sergey Vodopyanov and Uzbekistan’s Tulashboy Doniyorov, among others—in the 2008 Beijing Olympics have been revived. Their performances created quite a flutter. But the spotlight decisively swung away from them after Vijender Singh made history by bagging the first Olympic medal in the sport for India. The Bhiwani Bomber became the toast of the nation along with Abhinav Bindra, who went two shades better than Vijender’s bronze by claiming gold in the 10m Air Rifle event.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 2016 من Sports Illustrated India.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 2016 من Sports Illustrated India.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من SPORTS ILLUSTRATED INDIA مشاهدة الكل
Hockey World Cup- India Gears Up For Glory
Sports Illustrated India

Hockey World Cup- India Gears Up For Glory

Hosts India will have to play out of their skins to win their second Hockey Men’s World Cup title.

time-read
10 mins  |
December 2018
The Drive For Consistency
Sports Illustrated India

The Drive For Consistency

Find something you love doing and use that to fall in love with your body, so you can embrace change and sustain a pattern that lets you unlock the best version of yourself

time-read
3 mins  |
May 2018
The Phenomenon
Sports Illustrated India

The Phenomenon

Kevin Pietersen may have retired from playing, but he will remain a part of the game and Test cricket folklore for a long time

time-read
4 mins  |
May 2018
Powering The Action
Sports Illustrated India

Powering The Action

The IPL is intense. Players let off the fireworks on the pitch, but it is the coaches and support staff that light the fuses. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED traces the evolution of this critical aspect of the game, and why Indians still need to make a mark

time-read
9 mins  |
May 2018
A Steep Learning Curve
Sports Illustrated India

A Steep Learning Curve

Making the transition from the junior level to the senior team has been quite challenging but a hugely rewarding experience.

time-read
4 mins  |
August 2016
Scorecard - Don't Blame It on Rio
Sports Illustrated India

Scorecard - Don't Blame It on Rio

Apathy towards the Olympics could cast golf in a negative light and jeo paradise its standing with the IOC for the 2024 Games and beyond.

time-read
5 mins  |
June - July 2016
Bench Strength
Sports Illustrated India

Bench Strength

With the Likes of Nair, Yadav, Jadhav and Chahal Performing With Maturity Over the Past Year, Team India’s Bench Strength Looks Strong Ahead of the Champions Trophy.

time-read
9 mins  |
March 2017
Sir Roger Bannister (1929-2018)
Sports Illustrated India

Sir Roger Bannister (1929-2018)

A legend in his own time, Sir Roger was most proud of his neurology research but his historic sub-four mile run in 1954 is still regarded as one of his best breakthroughs

time-read
2 mins  |
April 2018
Battle Ready
Sports Illustrated India

Battle Ready

A star-studded Indian contingent seeks to reshape its approach with rising talent, even as seasoned warriors in badminton, weight-lifting, shooting and wrestling aim for gold

time-read
9 mins  |
April 2018
Safe Passage
Sports Illustrated India

Safe Passage

The Dustup That Marred the Return of Chris Paul to L.a. Has Faded. As the Point God Settles Into a New Home, He Has a New Running Buddy and a Group of Teammates Who Feel Like a Family

time-read
10+ mins  |
April 2018