New Delhi: Far from demoralising them, the failure to fetch a medal at the London Olympics has motivated Indian boxers to improve their performance, insisted national coach Gurbaksh Singh Sandhu after returning to the country on Tuesday.
Seven Indian boxers -- L Devendro Singh (49kg), Shiva Thapa (56kg), Jai Bhagwan (60kg), Manoj Kumar (64kg), Vikas Krishan (69kg), Vijender Singh (75kg) and Sumit Sangwan (81kg) -- qualified for the Games but failed to go beyond the quarter-finals.
They were also unlucky to not get some close decisions in their favour and Sandhu said the setback has only made them hungrier for success.
"This setback has motivated them. They are not at all low, in fact, they want to prove a point now. They have already started training," Sandhu said after the team's return early this morning.
"Gone are the days when losing bouts would demoralise the boys. Now they feel motivated to train harder. The feeling has completely changed," added the coach, who has been at the helm for over two decades.
Reflecting on the performance, Sandhu said even though a medal is missing from the kitty, he is satisfied with his wards' performance.
"We were looking to equal Beijing (Olympics where Vijender Singh won a bronze) but unfortunately could not. But going by performance, I would say, my boys did a good job," he said.
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