Vaibhav Shetty hoping to start the medal count for India at IMMAF Oceania Open

LockerRoom Team

05 Mar 2020

The 2020 IMMAF Oceania Open Championships are almost here. The event will happen from March 6, 2020 to March 8, 2020 at the Gold Coast Recreation Centre in Palm Beach, Australia and the lone representation for India would be Vaibhav Shetty.

Vaibhav, who has plenty of amateur experience in his resume to showcase including a couple of World Championship outings, was initially supposed to travel with former Junior World Champion Mahboob Khan. Mahboob, however, faced issues with Visa which forced him out of the championship.

In an exclusive statement, Vaibhav noted that he is hoping to open the medal count for India in 2020 at the event.

“I did not have a very successful World Championship last time around. This time around, Mahboob could not make it to the Oceania Championship due to the Visa issues so I’ll be the only guy to represent India at the event. Hoping to do a lot better. Tough competition but it’s the first event of the year and hopefully I’ll get the medal and open the medal count for India in 2020,” he said.

The event will also be very important for Vaibhav on a personal level as this will be the first time that he will let his son watch his fight. Vaibhav posted about the same on his Instagram page and shared a wonderful story as well along with a picture of his family.

“It all started when the little one was watching Virat Kohli bat and asked if he could ever play for India. His incredulous look when I said that I play for India made me rethink my policy of not letting him watch me fight. Family tagging along to watch me walk out with the tricolor and fight for the first time ever. Nothing is more precious than his joy on holding the flag up,” he noted.

Vaibhav will be competing in the Middleweight Category at the tournament and will have tough competition from the likes of fighters from Australia, Czech Republic, New Zealand among others.

Vaibhav Shetty hoping to start the medal count for India at IMMAF Oceania Open

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