New Delhi:
Their punches have had such a resonance in the past two years that expectations are bound to be sky-high when Indian boxers, led by the effervescent Vijender Singh and the experienced Akhil Kumar, step into the ring aiming for at least half-a-dozen medals at the Commonwealth Games this October.
For all their success in the past two years, Indian boxers have managed just two gold medals -- Akhil (2006) and Mohammad Ali Qamar (2002) -- in the Commonwealth Games record books but the sport has not been the same ever since Vijender clinched the historic Olympic bronze in Beijing.
Indians have not returned empty-handed from any major international tournament since then and if the form continues, there could well be another medal rush in the offing at the Talkatora Stadium come October.
Leading the charge would be middle-weight world number one Vijender. The strapping six-footer from a Haryana small-town is undoubtedly the face of the Indian boxing and one of the few millionaire sports persons outside cricket.
The first Indian boxer to clinch a World Championship medal, when he won the bronze in Milan last year, Vijender will be the cynosure of all eyes when he would fight to better the silver that he won in the previous Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
"I like the spotlight. I like being the focus. I have learned to deal with the pressure that comes with expectations. It doesn't intimidate me. In fact, I enjoy it," said the 24-year-old, who was conferred the country's highest sporting honour -- the Khel Ratna -- last year.
At the Commonwealth Championships, which give an indication of the level of competition to come at the Games, Vijender had little trouble getting past opponents to clinch the gold this March despite the fact that he fought with a bleeding nose in the final bout.
"I got a silver medal the last time around but I am not the same boxer anymore. I am more confident about myself and that will show in my performance also, especially when I will have my own people cheering for me," said the nimble-footed boxer, who is one of the six brand ambassadors of the event.
While for Vijender the Games are an opportunity to go a step up on the podium, for Akhil the event is a challenge to hold on to what he has already achieved.
Injuries sustained in the past two years have failed to deter him and he is back in the team to defend what was India's only boxing gold in Melbourne.
Ranked number 10 in the world, the 28-year-old bantam weight (56kg) pugilist will have to dig from his experience against fresh talent such as England's Iain Weaver, the 20-year-old who beat him in the very first round of the Commonwealth Championships in March.
Akhil, a Haryana-lad, is known for his razor-sharp reflexes and open-guard style of fighting, which draws criticism and appreciation in equal measure.
"It has been tough but who said boxing is easy. It's a sport which leaves you in pain whether you win or lose. I have recovered from the niggles that have been affecting me and I am confident of defending my gold medal successfully," said the Olympic quarter-finalist, who beat off competition from younger boxers such as Jitender Kumar and Chhote Lal Yadav to clinch a spot in the 10-member Indian team for the event.
"Akhil has had it tough and injuries have hampered him but he is coming back into his own and hopefully he would be giving his best performance in the Games," said national coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu.
But India's medal hopes don't end at these two boxers, who are without doubt the most recognisable faces of the sport currently.
Suranjoy Singh, an unassuming 23-year-old fly weight (52kg) boxer from Manipur, is one of the brightest prospects given the form he has shown in the past one year.
The diminutive counter-puncher, whose tempo often leaves his rivals gasping for breath, has clinched six international gold medals in the past one year.
He was India's only gold-medallist at last year's inter-continental President's Cup where he also bagged the 'Best Boxer' trophy.
"Suranjoy's fitness level and his speed make him one of the most dangerous boxers. His reflexes are excellent and he makes sure that he makes up for his short height by fighting from a distance," said Sandhu.
In the light weight (60kg) division, Jai Bhagwan is a strong medal contender for the country. Not much talked about but a consistent performer, Jai was a silver-medallist at last year's Asian Championships and also won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Championships.
The light welter weight (64kg) division has comeback man Manoj Kumar presenting India's challenge. The 2007 Asian Championships bronze medalist had all but faded into oblivion due to a hand injury but roared back into contention by beating Youth Commonwealth Games gold medalist Balwinder Singh in the selection trials.
In the light weight 81kg, this year's Arjuna awardee Dinesh Kumar, who was among India's six gold medalists at the Commonwealth Championships earlier this year, is a medal hope at the Games too. Relying mostly on the sheer power of his punches, Dinesh has grown in confidence after his first-round loss in the 2008 Olympics.
The heavy and super heavy weight divisions have fetched just two medals -- a silver and a bronze -- for India at the Commonwealth Games and it would once again be a challenge for Manpreet Singh (91kg) and Paramjeet Samota (+91kg) to better that.
Samota, however, did spring a surprise at the Commonwealth Championships in March when he beat off more fancied rivals to clinch the gold medal.