8 Indian boxers are participating in the ongoing AIBA Men’s World Championship 2017 in Hamburg. Our boxers have given a good start by notching four victories and one loss in 2 days.
Amit Phangal (49kg), Kavinder Bisht (52kg), Gaurav Bidhuri (56kg) and Manoj Kumar (69kg) gave a successive start to India. However, there was a slight disappointment too, as Satish Kumar (+91kg) bowed out of the competition.
Day 1
Amit and Gaurav both were making their debut at the mega stage won their respective bout on the first day of the tournament.
Amit Phangal, the bronze medalist from Asian Championship, defeated his Italian opponent Fedrico Serra by 4-1 in light fly category. He had hit some good punches in the 2nd and 3rd round and impressed judges. The panel of 5 judges given him the score of 29-28 28-29 30-27 29-28 30-27 which was enough to be a winner.
Amit Phangal | Source: BFI Facebook
After the bout, Amit told PTI “This is my first year in the senior circuit and so far it has turned out to be quite well. I am happy with the results I am getting,”
In pre Quarterfinals today, Amit will face 7th seed Carlos Quipo from Cuba who got a bye in the 1st round.
Gaurav Bidhuri | Source: NDTV Sports
On the other side, Gaurav Bidhuri was up against Australia’s Sam Goodman in Bantam weight section, who is Oceania Champion and World Youth Boxing bronze medalist. It didn’t take much effort and Gaurav defeats him by 5-0 (29-28 30-27 30-27 30-27 29-28).
In Pre-QF today Gaurav will face Ukranian Mykola Butsenko who has defeated 6th seeded Jean Vadamootoo in the 1st round
Day 2
Three Indians were in action on Day 2 including CWG Gold medalist Manoj Kumar. The experienced boxer was drafted against European bronze medalist Vasilii Belous from Moldova. Manoj experience worked for him and he won the bout by 3-2 (27-29 27-29 29-27 29-27 29-27) in the exhausting contest in the welterweight category.
Manoj Kumar | Source: Zee News
In the Pre-QF Manoj will be against 4th seed, Bronze medalist in 2013 World Championship Gabriel Jose Maestre Perez from Venezuela.
In another bout, Kavinder Bisht edge past Japanese Ryusei Baba by 3-2 (30-27 28-29 29-28 30-27 28-29) in fly weight section. Ryusei was too aggressive in the first round and was attacking Kavinder continuously but came back in the 2nd round stronger and broke Bab’s rhythm.
Kavinder Bisht | Source: Kavinder Bisht Facebook
In Pre-QF he will be up against 3rd seed and two times World Championship medalist Mohamed Flissi of Algeria.
The disappointment of the day was in Super Heavyweight category where Satish Kumar lost his opening contest to Azerbaijan’s two-time world champion Mahammadrasul Majidov 5-0 (30-27 29-28 30-26 30-27 30-27).
Satish Kumar | Source: Mid Day
So far competition is going well for the Indian boxers but the next challenge would be tougher.