NEW DELHI: Commonwealth Games silver medallist Manish Kaushik (63kg) was the standout performer of the day as three Indian boxers entered the quarter-finals and are now one win away from a medal at the AIBA Men’s World Championships in Ekaterinburg, Russia on Tuesday. Joining Kaushik in the last-eight stage were Asian Games gold medallist Amit Panghal (52kg) and Sanjeet (91kg).
Kaushik showed strong resolve in a very tricky pre-quarter-final bout against Baatarsukh Chinzorig of Mongolia, a No. 4 seed and 2018 Asian Games silver medallist. Using his pace and power perfectly, Manish landed some strong punches on his accomplished opponent to secure a unanimous 5-0 win.
“It was a really good bout against the reigning Asian Games silver medallist. I sat with my coaches and devised a strategy for him and I played with that strategy throughout the bout,” said an elated Kaushik after the bout.
Up next for Kaushik in his quest for a maiden medal from the world event is Brazil’s Wanderson de Oliveira.
For the second edition in a row, Asian Championships gold medallist Amit Panghal reached the quarter-finals of the World Championships. As the second seed, he was the favourite against Turkey’s Batuhan Citfci in 52kg and he lived up to the expectations when he soared to a comprehensive 5-0 victory. It set up a quarter-final showdown with Caarlo Palam of Philippines, whom he had defeated at the Asian Games last year.
Rohtak pugilist Sanjeet (91kg) made it a memorable outing in his first-ever appearance at the World Championships when he outpunched the second seed Sanjar Tursunov of Uzbekistan 4-1 to advance to the last-eight.
