{image-Vijendar-great picture_24082008.jpg news.oneindia.in}Beijing, Aug 24: Indian boxer Vijender Kumar was awarded his bronze medal in Beijing on Saturday, but there were just a handful of people cheering him on at the presentation ceremony.

While the nation's chest swelled with pride as the tricolour went up, not a single official was present from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) at the medal ceremony. The IOA President Suresh Kalmadi and Secretary General Randhir Singh were instead at the Bird's Nest stadium presenting medals to the winners of the 4 X 400 metre relays.Only the Indian boxing contingent and members of the Indian Boxing Federation were around for the ceremony.

Vijender has been named the flag-bearer for India at the closing ceremony.

The boxer lost 5-8 to Cuban Emilio Correa Bayeaux in a closely contested semi-final at the Workers Gymnasium. However, his bronze is the first-ever boxing medal for India.



OneIndia News