For the longest time, India's boxing hopes for Rio were restricted to just one representative -- Shiva Thapa, who had made his debut as a teenager in 2012.
The recent years have not been good for Indian boxing, with the national federation fighting more battles outside the ring than inside the circle. The internal squabbles had an adverse impact right through the qualification process, with no woman making it to Rio, thus ruling out a chance for a repeat of Mary Kom's heroics from London.
Vikas Krishan and Manoj Kumar qualified much closer to the Olympics, but their experience of having been to London, just like Thapa, should stand them in good stead. Krishan is stepping into the weight category left vacant by Vijender Singh, who has gone professional, and he would want to emulate Vijender's medal-winning effort from 2008.
The team
Shiva Thapa (56kg - Bantamweight)
Manoj Kumar (64kg - Light welterweight)
Vikas Krishan (75kg - Middleweight)
The key dates
August 6 to 21
How they got there
Thapa became the first Indian boxer to qualify for the Rio Olympics after finishing second at the Asia Oceania Olympic qualifiers, held in China in April.
In June, Manoj and Krishan gained Rio berths after winning their quarterfinal bouts at the AIBA World Olympic Qualification tournament in Baku.
What they say
Manoj Kumar:
Given the terrible state in which boxing is right now, I am relieved to have qualified for the Games. There was lot of pressure on the team which is competing here and I am glad that came good.
Vikas Krishan:
I have a feeling that I will win a bronze medal at Rio Olympics. I will have to win two bouts to bag a bronze. We have a small but a very good team. Both Shiva Thapa and Manoj Kumar are very good and capable of winning medals. In fact, those two can get gold.
.
Extras
Thapa holds the record for being the youngest Indian boxer to qualify for the Olympics. He achieved it after qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics at the age of 18.
India's track record
*Vijender Singh became the first Indian boxer to clinch an Olympic medal when he won a bronze in the 75kg category in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
*Mary Kom then won a bronze in the 48 kg category in the 2012 London Games, where women's boxing was introduced in the Olympics for the first time.