<p>Fit-again Indian pugilist Vikas Krishan is set to train with professional boxers abroad in preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics and Asian Games next year, saying "if I train in India I will not win a medal."</p>.<p>The 30-year-old, who has recuperated from the shoulder injury he suffered a few days ahead of the Tokyo Olympics last year, feels training with "champions" will benefit him.</p>.<p>“I sparred earlier this week and feel I have recovered fully. My focus now is to get back into the Indian team and become the first Indian boxer to win a fourth medal in the Asian Games,” Vikas told PTI.</p>.<p>“My immediate target is Asian Games and the long term aim is the Paris Olympics. There is only one medal left for me to win and that is an Olympic medal.</p>.<p>“I'm doing this pro training for the Olympics because if I train in India I will not win a medal," he added.</p>.<p>Among the most accomplished names in Indian boxing, Vikas feels training at the Indian national camp will not suffice and he needs to fight with professional boxers to grow as a pugilist.</p>.<p>“Whenever I go to the camp it has always been one-sided. I haven’t won any ties via split decision and neither have I lost to anyone while sparring. I am the number one not just in my weight but all other weight categories, I spar with all boxers.</p>.<p>“For my improvement, I want to train with some pro boxers. When I train with boxers who are better than me, then only I can grow.</p>.<p>“There is still over a year left for Asian Games and I wouldn’t improve much staying back in India because I have already defeated the boxers here.”</p>.<p>Vikas plans to return ahead of the postponed Asian Games, scheduled to begin in September next year.</p>.<p>“I want to go for 5-6 months so that I can get my body back into condition and come back into the mindset. And when you stay with champions you adopt the same mentality."</p>.<p>A youth world champion and a bronze-winner at the Youth Olympics with multiple Asian Games and Asian Championships medals along with a bronze in the World Championships and a Commonwealth Games gold, Vikas’ trophy cabinet is just missing an Olympic medal and he plans to get that in Paris.</p>.<p>Since his 69kg weight class was scrapped, the three-time Olympian has decided to participate in the 80kg weight division in Paris.</p>.<p>“I will compete in 80kg in the Olympics. So, I want to fight with those boxer who have more experience and power than me and there is no one in the camp with that.”</p>.<p>Vikas plans to train in Virginia, where he trained ahead of the Olympics as well, and resume his career in the professional circuit.</p>.<p>“I was just waiting to recover. I have applied for US visa and as soon as it arriver in 15-20 days I will leave. US has pro fights every week so it’s not a big deal to get fights there.</p>.<p>“I will train in USA first but Mexico pro boxers are also very good so if I get a chance I will go there. Mexico will be my first priority.”</p>.<p>Reflecting on the past year, the Haryana boxer, who has been out of action since his first round exit at the Tokyo Games, said it was a “dark period.”</p>.<p>“I had a lot of problems this past year, it was a dark period because I don’t get injured often and such a major one happened for the first time.</p>.<p>“I was told it will take six-eight months to recover so I kept thinking I will fight in the Commonwealth Games. But my hand didn’t recover in time."</p>.<p>But the former World Championship bronze medallist found a silver lining to his misfortune.</p>.<p>“I was tired of boxing. I started in 2000. In 2012, I took a 1.5 year rest. To prolong your career you need breaks in between. So, this injury went in my favour and I’m hungrier than ever.”</p>
<p>Fit-again Indian pugilist Vikas Krishan is set to train with professional boxers abroad in preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics and Asian Games next year, saying "if I train in India I will not win a medal."</p>.<p>The 30-year-old, who has recuperated from the shoulder injury he suffered a few days ahead of the Tokyo Olympics last year, feels training with "champions" will benefit him.</p>.<p>“I sparred earlier this week and feel I have recovered fully. My focus now is to get back into the Indian team and become the first Indian boxer to win a fourth medal in the Asian Games,” Vikas told PTI.</p>.<p>“My immediate target is Asian Games and the long term aim is the Paris Olympics. There is only one medal left for me to win and that is an Olympic medal.</p>.<p>“I'm doing this pro training for the Olympics because if I train in India I will not win a medal," he added.</p>.<p>Among the most accomplished names in Indian boxing, Vikas feels training at the Indian national camp will not suffice and he needs to fight with professional boxers to grow as a pugilist.</p>.<p>“Whenever I go to the camp it has always been one-sided. I haven’t won any ties via split decision and neither have I lost to anyone while sparring. I am the number one not just in my weight but all other weight categories, I spar with all boxers.</p>.<p>“For my improvement, I want to train with some pro boxers. When I train with boxers who are better than me, then only I can grow.</p>.<p>“There is still over a year left for Asian Games and I wouldn’t improve much staying back in India because I have already defeated the boxers here.”</p>.<p>Vikas plans to return ahead of the postponed Asian Games, scheduled to begin in September next year.</p>.<p>“I want to go for 5-6 months so that I can get my body back into condition and come back into the mindset. And when you stay with champions you adopt the same mentality."</p>.<p>A youth world champion and a bronze-winner at the Youth Olympics with multiple Asian Games and Asian Championships medals along with a bronze in the World Championships and a Commonwealth Games gold, Vikas’ trophy cabinet is just missing an Olympic medal and he plans to get that in Paris.</p>.<p>Since his 69kg weight class was scrapped, the three-time Olympian has decided to participate in the 80kg weight division in Paris.</p>.<p>“I will compete in 80kg in the Olympics. So, I want to fight with those boxer who have more experience and power than me and there is no one in the camp with that.”</p>.<p>Vikas plans to train in Virginia, where he trained ahead of the Olympics as well, and resume his career in the professional circuit.</p>.<p>“I was just waiting to recover. I have applied for US visa and as soon as it arriver in 15-20 days I will leave. US has pro fights every week so it’s not a big deal to get fights there.</p>.<p>“I will train in USA first but Mexico pro boxers are also very good so if I get a chance I will go there. Mexico will be my first priority.”</p>.<p>Reflecting on the past year, the Haryana boxer, who has been out of action since his first round exit at the Tokyo Games, said it was a “dark period.”</p>.<p>“I had a lot of problems this past year, it was a dark period because I don’t get injured often and such a major one happened for the first time.</p>.<p>“I was told it will take six-eight months to recover so I kept thinking I will fight in the Commonwealth Games. But my hand didn’t recover in time."</p>.<p>But the former World Championship bronze medallist found a silver lining to his misfortune.</p>.<p>“I was tired of boxing. I started in 2000. In 2012, I took a 1.5 year rest. To prolong your career you need breaks in between. So, this injury went in my favour and I’m hungrier than ever.”</p>