Commonwealth Games 2018: Vikas Krishan confirms he will turn professional by end of year

Gold Coast: One of India’s most decorated amateur boxers, Vikas Krishan on Wednesday said he will turn professional by the end of this year, putting into action a plan he originally wanted to implement after the 2016 Rio Olympics. Speaking to PTI after confirming his maiden Commonwealth Games medal by advancing to the semi-finals at Gold Coast, Vikas said he is now fully prepared to go ahead with his long-held ambition. “I have made up my mind, I am turning professional at the end of this year. I will be holding discussions with the federation and I am hopeful that they would be supportive. I don’t wan’t to do anything which they resent,” the middle-weight 75kg category boxer said. [caption id=“attachment_4371105” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Vikas Krishan. Reuters[/caption] The 25-year-old Haryana-boxer has had an accomplished career, which includes an Asian Games gold medal, a world championships bronze medal, Asian Championships silver and bronze and a quarter-final finish at the Olympics. He had spoken about turning professional after the Rio Games but changed his plans when he could not secure a medal. “This time, I am quite sure about it. I think this is right time because Olympics is no longer off-limits for professional boxers and that takes care of my dream of an Olympic medal. I just hope the federation supports me the way it has always supported me,” he said. Vikas has looked a stronger and more agile boxer in recent competitions and was quite compact in his win over Benny Muzio on Wednesday. The standout feature of his tactics today was a solid guard, which thwarted almost every attack thrown at him. “Yes I have worked on my guard, I have become more sure of when to lower it and when to go into a shell. The timing has improved for me. I didn’t pay enough attention to it in the past,” he said. “My strength and endurance has also improved so things are going pretty well for me. A lot of it has been possible because of the federation’s support, I am really thankful to them,” he added. Next up for Vikas in the semi-finals of the ongoing Games is Northern Ireland’s Steven Donelley.