New Delhi : A medallist on debut at amateur boxing’s biggest stage, world championship Bronze-winner Manish Kaushik (63kg) says he was sure of finishing on the podium in Russia, the day he triumphed in the selection trials.The 25-year-old, who hails from Devsar village which is about 5km from the cradle of Indian boxing — Bhiwani, signed off with a Bronze on Friday after losing 0-5 to top-seeded Cuban Andy Gomez Cruz.“My draw was tough and before that I had a tough trial bout against Shiva (Thapa). Once I beat him, I got the confidence that I would win a world medal,” Kaushik said, referring to his long-standing home rivalry with Thapa, a three-time Asian medallist and a 2015 world Bronze-winner.The disappointment of the semifinal loss apart, Kaushik can take heart from a stellar run at the big event. Among the opponents he took down en route the semifinals was Mongolia’s fourth-seeded Baatarsukhiin Chinzorig, an Asian Games Silver-medallist and a two-time Asian Championships medal-winner.Speaking of getting better, coming up for him is the Olympic Qualifiers in February next year in China. The medal in Ekaterinburg has sealed his spot in the Indian team and Kaushik said he couldn’t have been more relieved.“Now that I am assured of a place in the Olympic Qualifiers, I feel there is less pressure on me,” he said. “I can prepare myself more confidently as I know that I don’t have to give trials. It would help me be at my best in the qualifiers and hopefully clinch a spot for Tokyo,” he added.
