A sporting giant in India, Vijender Singh can arguably be considered an icon.

Turning 31 today, Singh was the first Indian to win a boxing medal at the Olympics, securing bronze in Beijing, and without a doubt is the country’s greatest male pugilist.

Last year he slipped free of the vest ending an amateur career which, alongside his Games bronze, saw him garner a bronze at the 2009 World championships and silver, bronze and silver at three consecutive Commonwealth Games.

The super middleweight is currently unbeaten in seven pro bouts and scaled new heights in his fledgling career earlier this year when he secured the WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight title, dismantling WBC European champion Kerry Hope to take a unanimous decision.

A true pioneer for boxing in India.

1973: Robert Pires, a three-time Premier League winner with Arsenal and Euros and WC winner with France (43)

1974: Michael Vaughan, ex-England cricket captain who regained the Ashes in 2005 to end 18-year drought (42)

1985: Cal Crutchlow, ended a 35-year wait for a MotoGP victory by a Brit, winning the Czech Rep GP this year (31)

1987: Andy Dalton, the only quarterback to lead the Cincinnati Bengals to four consecutive playoff berths (29)