Beijing: Indian boxer Vijender Kumar was awarded his bronze medal in Beijing on Saturday, but there were just a handful of people cheering him on at the presentation ceremony.
While the nation's chest swelled with pride as the tricolour went up, not a single official was present from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) at the medal ceremony.
The IOA President Suresh Kalmadi and Secretary General Randhir Singh were instead at the Bird's Nest stadium presenting medals to the winners of the 4 X 400 metre relays.
Only the Indian boxing contingent and members of the Indian Boxing Federation were around for the ceremony.
Vijender has been named the flag-bearer for India at the closing ceremony.
The boxer lost 5-8 to Cuban Emilio Correa Bayeaux in a closely contested semi-final at the Workers Gymnasium. However, his bronze is the first-ever boxing medal for India.
Emilio, a two-time Pan-American Champion, was clearly the better boxer on view with his quick footwork and reach. To Vijender's credit, he fought gallantly to carry the bout right into the fourth round, though the portents were clear that the Cuban had the edge by the end of the third round.
However, his win set into motion a chain of rewards back home in India. The Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) on Saturday decided to reward shooter Abhinav Bindra, the country's first-ever individual gold medallist in Olympic Games, and bronze medal winners -- grappler Sushil Kumar and pugilist Vijender -- with cash prizes totalling Rs 45 lakh.
Low-cost airlines SpiceJet also announced on Friday that Vijender can fly for life in their domestic flights in recognition of his historic feat of winning a bronze in Beijing Olympics.
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