Olympic medallist Vijender Singh turns pro, will miss 2016 Rio Olympics

London: Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh has now turned professional. The announcement for this lucrative deal was signed at a star-studded media conference in London on Monday. The 29-year-old has been training in the UK with Queensberry Promotions and has given the ongoing national camp in Patiala a miss.

Olympic bronze-medallist Indian boxer Vijender Singh turns professional.

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 29, 2015

Once a boxer turns professional, he cannot compete at an amateur level unless he’s part of The International Boxing Association’s pro-boxing competition APB. And if this is the case, Vijender won’t be able to compete at the Olympics.

Currently, Vijender is training with a company owned by British boxing promoter Francis Warren according to a report in ‘The Indian Express’.

With new buddies in UK @doubleHroon @jack_catt93 @AGBoxing @JasonSillett pic.twitter.com/fV6QtBOfK0

— Vijender Singh (@boxervijender) June 24, 2015

The boxer's father, Mahipal Singh, said that his son was old enough to make his decisions. According to a report in the ‘Mid-Day’, Sandhu also said that if Vijender does decide to go pro, it will 'definitely affect' India's Olympic preparations.