Vijender Singh: Heading for Manchester after turning pro

India's Olympic hero Vijender Singh has signed a multi-year promotional agreement with Queensberry Promotions and turned professional.

Singh's middleweight bronze at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing helped raise boxing’s profile in India and the 29-year-old has since been the face of sport in the country.

"I'm excited to turn pro and looking forward to the new chapter of my life," Singh, who was expected to represent India at the Rio Olympics next year, said in a statement.

"I want to train hard and perform for my country at the global level. My immediate goal will be to work hard and make a good boxing record in the next year or so."

Singh, who is from the north Indian state of Haryana, will now base himself in Manchester and train under Lee Beard, who worked with Ricky Hatton.

He intends to fight a minimum of six times in his first year as a professional.