'Reborn' Akhil Kumar back with a bang

For Akhil Kumar, this is like rebirth. Making your way back into the international boxing arena after four years is not easy.

The 34-year-old Haryanvi, who is also a deputy superintendent of police back home, was down with fever till a couple of days ago. He was praying his comeback doesn't go waste. But he was quietly confident about his chances. Never mind that his competitors are younger and used to the new scoring system. Moreover, he didn't even get to take part in any international competitions because the Indian boxing federation was suspended.

But when he finally got fit in time for his first bout against Nepal's Purna Bahadur Lama on Wednesday, he didn't spare his weaker opponent. It was as if he wanted to create the same kind of fear amongst his opponents as it used to be during his heyday.

His 32-year-old opponent hardly had a chance to throw a punch. Kumar pounded Lama as if he were a punching bag, forcing the Nepalese to take two standing counts in the first round and one in the second. And Kumar only stopped after he got technical knockout result by the jury.

"I was worried how I'd be able to fight because I'd been down with viral fever," Kumar said after the bout. "I'd been having problems with my weight too. I would have been able to compete without the support of Jaidev Bisht, Gurbaksh Singh Sandhu and physio Ahluwalia."

Kumar will take on Charly Suarez of the Philippines in the pre-quarterfinals. "I have not fought for some time now. But I'm not taking any pressure, and the coaches aren't taking pressure either."

Earlier in the day, India's bantamweight (56 kg) hopeful, Shiva Thapa, got a bye in his round of 32 bout.