Olympics 2024: 'Leave Girls and Everything' - Vijender Singh sacrificed Love for Medals ahead of Beijing Olympics

Olympic medalist and former Vijender Singh shared how he motivated himself to win the coveted medal in the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Vijender Singh won a Bronze medal in the 2008 Olympics. The Indian boxer has been a phenomenon in his career but admitted it wasn't easy for him in the first attempt.

Singh took part in the 2004 Athens Olympics but failed. He came back roaring four years later to clinch a medal at the games. And the player says it gets easier for an athlete after having the first exposure at the Olympics.

During the pre-show of the Olympics 2024 opening ceremony, Vijender shared how he motivated himself to work hard and win a medal for India, instead of thinking about the distractions. He sacrificed perhaps his love life in his younger days to focus on winning an Olympic medal.

"At the first Olympics in Athens, I was in awe of the event. I kept on watching the proceedings. But in Beijing, I had a lot of confidence. I was prepared for the challenge and told myself, 'It's time to go for a medal. You can't just keep on participating. Leave Girls and everything,'" Vijender said on JioCinema ahead of the Olympics 2024 opening ceremony.

Earlier, Vijender said that he was optimistic about the women boxers and also tipped the women pugilists to better the colour of their medals.

"I haven't really followed the fortunes of the male boxers but whatever I have read about women boxers has been encouraging. The girls will do well, I hope we get one or two medals. It might be that they (the women boxers) will change the colour of the medals," Vijender said to PTI.

The legendary boxer, who is also a BJP leader, also confirmed that he would like to take up the role of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) president if an opportunity arrives for him.