Indian Boxer Gaurav Bidhuri lost his 56kg semi-final bout against USA’s Duke Ragan by 5-0 and settled for bronze medal for India.
The wild card entrant Gaurav, 2 times National Champion, started well in the first round hitting some strong punches on Duke, but the American boxer who had defeated 2nd seeded China’s Zhang Jiawei in the Quarter final came back strongly and gave no chances to Gaurav.
In the third round, Gaurav went out on his shield and Duke took advantage of this and made strategic attacks. Bidhuri came forward all the time against a stronger opponent and was playing defensive moves.
Duke was declared the winner with the scoreline 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, 30-26.
Gaurav now has to be content with the Bronze medal and with this India’s campaign at the Hamburg World Championship ends.
With this, Gaurav became the 4th Indian to win a World Championship medal after Vijender Singh (2009), Vikas Krishan Yadav (2011), Shiva Thapa (2015). He also became the 2nd Indian after Vikas to win World Championship medal in debut season. Also, he is the first Indian wild card entrant to win a medal.
Overall this was a good World Championship for the Indian Boxers.
Out of 8 qualified boxers, only Gaurav reached in semi finals and won medal, while 2 boxers (Amit 46-49kg, Kavinder 52kg) lost at Quarterfinal stage.
They were playing first time under the banner of newly formed ‘Boxing Federation of India’ in World Championship.