Indian Boxer Beats Chinese Opponent, Offers Belt Back As A Gesture Of Peace Between The Two Nations

August 6, 2017

An Indian boxer won a title fight against a Chinese opponent then offered to hand back the prize as a gesture of peace between the two nations which are locked in a territorial dispute in the Himalayas.

Photo credit: Rafiq Maqbool/AP

Vijender Singh beat Zulpikar Maimaitiali on points on Saturday to retain his WBO Asia Pacific super middleweight title and take his opponent's WBO Oriental super middleweight belt.

After the unanimous verdict in Mumbai, Singh took the microphone and said to the crowd: "I don't want this title. I will give it back to Zulpikar."

He added: "I don't want tension on the border. It's a message of peace. That's important."

The gesture follows a stand-off in a remote frontier region beside the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan that has become increasingly tense.

China argues its territory extends south to an area called Gamochen, while India says Chinese control ends at Batanga La, further to the north.

About 3,000 troops from both countries are reportedly stationed near the border, The Guardian reports.