World Boxing C’ships: Two Medals Confirmed; Amit & Manish in Semis
The Indians are a win away from booking their place on the podium as a win in the quarters guarantees a bronze.
Four Indians Eyeing Medal Finish
The Indian juggernaut seemed unstoppable as four boxers, including Asian champion Amit Panghal (52kg), advanced to the quarterfinals with impressive victories to round off an all-win outing at the World Men’s Championships in Ekaterinburg, Russia, on Tuesday.
Asian Games gold-medallist and second seed Panghal was joined by Asian silver-winner and fifth seed Kavinder Singh Bisht (57kg) and the debutant duo of Commonwealth Games silver-winner Manish Kaushik (63kg) and Sanjeet (91kg)
Amit Eyeing Maiden World Medal
Asian Games gold-winner Panghal defeated Turkey's Batuhan Citfci.
The reigning Asian champion will next be up against Filipino Carlo Paalam, who had lost to Panghal in the semifinals of the Asian Games in Jakarta last year. Paalam defeated Korea's Jo Sehyeong in a unanimous verdict in his pre-quarterfinal bout.
Panghal is chasing a medal in his second world championship.
Manish Will Look to Continue Good Run
In the 63kg, Manish Kaushik stunned fourth-seeded Mongolian Chinzorig Baatarsukh, who is an Asian Games silver-medallist and also a two-time medal-winner at the Asian Championships. He won 5-0.
Kaushik will square off against Brazil's Wanderson de Oliveira. Oliveira defeated Japan's Saisuke Narimatsu in his last-16 stage bout.
Sanjeet is making his world debut at the showpiece event.
Sanjeet and Kavinder Also Looking Good
In 91kg, Sanjeet caused a massive upset by defeating second-seeded Uzbek Sanjar Tursunov 3-2. Tursunov is a bronze-medallist from the previous world championship besides being an Asian silver-winner.
Sanjeet will be up against seventh seeded Julio Cesa Castillo Torres of Ecuador. Torres got the better of Hungary's Adam Hamori.
Kavinder defeated Finland’s Arslan Khataev 3-2 to claim a second successive quarterfinal spot.
In the last-eight stage, Kavinder will meet fourth-seeded Englishman Peter McGrail, a former gold-medallist at the European Championships and reigning Commonwealth Games champion.
Amit Panghal in Semis
Amit Panghal beat Filipino Carlo Paalam to enter the semis of the 52kg category. Amit won 4-1. With this win, he is now assured that he will win a medal.
The judges’ score read: 29-28, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28, 28-29
Panghal had earlier defeated Paalam in the Asian Games semifinals last year.
In the last-four stage, the Haryana-pugilist will be up against Kazakhstan's Saken Bibossinov, who stunned Armenia's European gold-medallist and sixth seed Artur Hovhannisyan in his quarterfinal showdown.
The Indian was a quarterfinalist in the last edition of the world championship, losing a fiercely-contested bout to the then defending champion Hasanboy Dusmatov in the 49kg category.
In the last-four stage, Panghal will be up against Kazakhstan's Saken Bibossinov, who stunned Armenia's European gold-medallist and sixth seed Artur Hovhannisyan in his quarterfinal showdown.
Everything Went According to Plan: Amit Panghal
“It was great bout. I started slow but I think I dominated the second and third round. I was told by my coaches to be aggressive and I tried to be that. I had fought against him earlier so that gave me a fair idea of his gameplan as well. ” said Amit Panghal after his quarterfinal win.
Manish Wins, Another Medal Assured For India
After the good news of Amit Panghal, Manish Kaushik follows the lead.
Manish beat Brazil's Wanderson de Oliveira 5-0 to enter the semi-finals of the 63kg category. Like Amit, Manish too assures a medal for India.
The judges’ score read: 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, 29-28, 30-27
Manish came back strongly after a slow start to land a couple of decisive puncheson his opponent. If the first round belonged to Wanderson, Manish got the better of him in the next two rounds.
Kaushik now becomes the sixth Indian man to win a medal at the World Championships. Two medals confirmed - India’s best showing already.
Next up for Kaushik is Cuban top seed Andy Gomez Cruz, who out-punched Russia’s eighth-seeded Ilia Popov.
Already, India's Best Showing at the World C'Ships
Sanjeet in Action Shortly
Heartbreak For Sanjeet
In 91kg, Sanjeet lost to seventh seeded Julio Cesa Castillo Torres of Ecuador 1-4.
The judges’ score read: 27-30, 28-29, 29-28, 28-29, 28-29
In the previous round, Sanjeet caused a massive upset by defeating second-seeded Uzbek Sanjar Tursunov 3-2. Tursunov is a bronze-medallist from the previous world championship besides being an Asian silver-winner.
Kavinder in Action in a Short While
End of roads Kavinder
In the 57kg category, Kavinder Singh Bisht lost to fourth-seeded Englishman Peter McGrail in 5-0.
The judges’ score read: 28-29, 28-29, 27-30, 28-29, 27-30.
McGrail is a former gold-medallist at the European Championships and reigning Commonwealth Games champion.
Mixed Day for India at World Boxing
India's Manish Kaushik (63kg) and Amit Panghal (52kg) on Wednesday reached the semi-finals in their respective weight categories and thus assured themselves of a medal each.
India have won only four medals in the history of the Worlds thus far and this will be the first time that more than one boxer from the country will be winning a medal at the same edition.
Meanwhile, Sanjeet (91kg) and Kavinder (57kg) didn’t come up a spirited show to end their campaign at the World Boxing.
On Thursday (19 September), Amit will be up against Kazakhstan's Saken Bibossinov in the semis of 52kg while Kaushik will be facing Cuban top seed Andy Gomez Cruz in the 63kg semi-final.
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