Analysing India’s boxing contingent at Rio 2016

Manoj Kumar (64 kg)

The seniormost member of India’s boxing contingent, Manoj Kumar has participated earlier at the Olympics, having reached the pre-quarterfinals of the 2012 London Olympics.

Manoj’s loss at 2012 London to then world number 1, Great Britain’s Tom Stalker, came under controversial circumstances.

The Indian was adjudged to have lost the bout 20-16, with the scoring in the second round especially confusing, as Stalker was given a 9-5 advantage, despite visibly having struggled.

Kumar has been one of the most consistent boxers on the Indian circuit and is seeded sixth at Rio 2016. The winner of the Gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the pugilist goes up against Lithuania’s Evaldas Petrauskas, a Bronze medalist at London 2012.