Vijender sees the brighter side of National Games postponement

The postponement of next month's National Games may have poured cold water on his comeback plans, but Olympic bronze medal winning boxer Vijender Singh on Saturday, said the delay has also ended up giving him additional time to get back to full fitness.

The National Games, to be held in Jharkhand, were delayed until June due to non-completion of infrastructure work.

Vijender, who has not taken to the ring since winning the bronze medal in Beijing, was planning to make his competitive comeback with the event, which is now scheduled for June.

"I don't have a choice, I have to keep training and maintain my weight. It (the postponement) just gives me more time to get over small niggles and come back fitter," the middle weight pugilist said.

The strapping 22-year-old missed the World Cup in December citing a stiff back and started training only this month at the national camp in Patiala.

The Haryana boxer is also reluctant to compete in the AK Mishra International Tournament scheduled this March in Chandigarh.

"I wanted to compete in the National Games, I think that would have been a better stage. I am not so sure about AK Mishra International. But competition or no competition, I would continue training," he said.