Clash of history makers

Beijing, Aug 21 : The following are the pen sketches of Vijender Kumar of India and Cuban Emilio Correa Bayeaux Jr., who clash in the middleweight boxing semifinals here Friday:

Name: Vijender Kumar

Category: Middleweight

Date of Birth: October 25, 1985

Height: Six feet

Weight: 75 kg

Coach: B. I. Fernandes of Cuba and Gurbax Singh Sandhu

Idol: Senior teammate Akhil Kumar

Style: Mix of aggression and tight guard; Uses his height for probing and then backpedalling

Achievements: First Indian boxer in Olympic semifinals; Silver Medallist at 2007 Asian Championships; Lost in round of 32 at 2004 Olympics and 2007 World Championships in Chicago

Remarks: Looks at teammate Akhil as his friend, philosopher and guide; his good looks have attracted the attention of International fashion magazines; he could get lot of endorsement deals after this medal.

Quote: "He is a Cuban boxer but at the moment I won't comment as we will be seeing his videos. All I can say is that my strategy will be to win, win and win."

"I am really happy to win India's first medal in boxing and all credit goes to my coaches, and my parents, especially my father, who went to a far-away temple to pray for my success. My teammates Akhil and Jitender had lost their fights, so I wanted to do well and win the medal."

*******

Name: Emilio Correa Bayeaux Jr.

Category: Middleweight

Date of Birth: October 12, 1985

Height: Five feet 11 inches

Weight: 75 kg

Coach: Pedro Roque

Idol: Father, Emilio Correa Sr.

Style: Excellent footwork; Stinging right punch; an aggressive boxer but sometimes displays desperation

Achievements: Silver Medallist at 2004 World Junior Championships; a middleweight bronze from the 2005 World Championships besides gold medals at the 2005 and 2008 Pan American Championships and the 2007 PanAm Games.

Remarks: Son of Welterweight Emilio Correa Sr. the Olympic gold medallist in 1972 Munich Games; father also won the 1971 PanAm Games gold medal and 1974 World welterweight gold medal.

Quote: "My father gave me so much good advice and I am trying to follow it. My dream is to become an Olympic champion like him,"

--IANS