We must be confident of our skills: Akhil Kumar

FOR GOLD: Akhil says that his next ambition is to change the colour of the medal.

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New Delhi: He may have returned empty-handed from the Beijing Olympics but Akhil Kumar made sure that there was one medal around his neck at the World Championships in Moscow.

Akhil (54kg) fought hard losing on count-back to Olympic silver medallist Yankiel Leon Alarcon in the semi-finals at the AIBA Boxing World Cup in Moscow on Saturday.

The gritty 27-year-old matched his Cuban rival blow-for-blow all through the bout at the end of which the duo was tied 4-4.

The boxer told CNN-IBN's Mendra Dorjey that his next ambition is to change the colour of the medal.

"I am very happy with my performance but not with the medal that I won. I try for the gold medal but always miss it by a whisker. I always try to give my best and also win the gold," said Akhil.

Mendra Dorjey: What is your next target?

Akhil Kumar: My next target is the 2010 Commonwealth Games. But the tournaments leading up to the Games - World Championship, Commonwealth Championship and Asian Championship - will be used for preparation. But I will also try and win medals at these championships. I will go for gold.

Mendra Dorjey: The boxers have set a benchmark. What is you message for the next generation?

Akhil Kumar: Before us, Gurcharan Singh and Dingko Singh also came up with good performance. We have seen them and given our best. We must believe that we are the best and have faith in our abilities. We must have confidence on our practice, skills, desire and vision. The day is not far when an Indian boxer will be the world champion.

Mendra Dorjey: You say things have changed. So how much has Akhil Kumar changed from Beijing Olympics till now?

Akhil Kumar: I don't want to change. I want to remain as I am. We are being recognised because of greater media attention on boxing. This is the only change. I am as I used to be. I have the same hairstyle. Everything remains the same for me.