The World Championship silver medallist Amit Panghal lived as much as his popularity as he defeated Kharkhuu Enkhmandakh 3-2 within the 52kg quarter-finals on the 2021 ASBC Asian Boxing Championships in Dubai on Wednesday. Vikas Krishan and Varinder additionally registered victories and assured India of 15 medals-country’s best-ever medal haul on the Asian Championships surpassing 13 medals of 2019 version.
In the 52kg last-8 match, each Panghal and Enkhmandakh began the competition in a contrasting method. While Indian made a cautious begin, Mongolian boxer was aggressive from the phrase go. However, regardless of making a defensive begin, Panghal rapidly shifted gears as each the boxers noticed exchanging some heavy blows in quick paced fierce battle. With some well timed and exact punches, the highest seeded Panghal edged previous the opponent. His tactical brilliance put himself forward of Enkhmandakh and tilted the decision in his favour in a closely-fought sport.
With this victory, the defending champion Panghal progressed into semi-finals and confirmed his third successive Asian Championships medal after gold in 2019 and bronze in 2017. In the last-4 conflict, Panghal will tackle Kazakh boxer Saken Bibossinov, whom he beat within the 2019 World Championships semi-finals.
Extending India’s winning-run on Day 3 of the Championships, which is collectively hosted by the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) and UAE Boxing Federation, Varinder Singh (60kg) outclassed Samuel Dela Cruz of Philippines 5-0 in one-sided quarter-final and handed India its 14th medal on the prestigious occasion. He will now sq. off towards Iran’s Daniyal Shahbakhsh within the last-four stage.
In the third Indian bout of the day, World Championships bronze medallist Vikas Krishan defeated Iran’s Moslem Malamir 4-1 in 69kg semi-finals. Vikas will face stiff problem from prime seed and defending Champion Bobo Usmon Baturov of Uzbekistan within the semi-finals.
Later on the third day of the Championships, two extra Indian pugilists Ashish Kumar (75kg) and Narender (+91) shall be seen in motion and will look to make successful begins within the event and verify medals for the nation.
Having secured medal in every class, 10 Indian girls boxers together with Six-time world champion MC Mary Kom (51kg), Simranjit (60kg), Sakshi (54kg), Jaismine (57kg), Lalbuatsaihi (64kg), Lovlina Borgohain (69kg), Pooja Rani (75kg), Monika (48kg), Saweety (81kg) and Anupama (+81kg) will play their respective semi-finals on Thursday.
The on-going Championships has been witnessing the presence of 150 boxers from 17 nations together with robust boxing nations resembling India, Uzbekistan, Philippines and Kazakhstan.
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