Kavinder Singh Bisht (57kg) advanced to the pre-quarterfinals with a hard-fought win over China’s Chen Zhihao in the World men’s Boxing Championships at Yekaterinburg on Sunday.
The fifth seeded Indian left his opponent with a bloodied face before the judges ruled 3:2 in a split-decision verdict his favour after an exhausting bout during which both the boxers managed to connect very few impactful punches.
The 26-year-old, who was a quarter-finalist in the 2017 edition and is among the strongest contenders for a medal this time around, stood out for his pace and endurance during Sunday’s bout. The Indian dominated the first two rounds. He connected atleast two hooks in the first and continued to heap pressure on Chen with his combinations in the second. With Bisht going on the defensive in the final round, Chen made a spirited comeback but the former had already done the damage.
Earlier, second seed and Asian champion Amit Panghal (52kg) and Commonwealth Games silver-medallist Manish Kaushik (63kg) advanced to the pre-quarterfinals after claiming dominating wins in their respective second round bouts.
Brijesh Yadav bows out
It was curtains for Brijesh Yadav, who bowed out in the second round against Turkey’s Bayram Malkan later on Sunday.
Yadav was beaten 4:1 on points by Malkan, who impressed with his footwork and quick punching. The Indian was left chasing the bout very early in the first round when he got a standing count. Malkan used his height advantage well and didn’t give any time for Yadav to settle into the bout.
For much of the first two rounds, Yadav was seen backpedaling as Malkan’s fists of fury were proved to be too hot to handle. Yadav fought hard in the final round but the damage was already done. Sanjeet will be the final Indian boxer in action.
Victory for Sanjeet
Sanjeet, on the other hand, managed to salvage his position after a poor start against Scott Forrest. Sanjeet was guilty of taking blows on the counter-attack got his act together in the second and third rounds to nose ahead against the confident Scot. The India Open gold-medallist is competing in his first World Championship.
Forrest clearly out-punched Sanjeet in the first two rounds but the latter took the attack to his opponent in the third, getting his combinations right. Forrest also ran out of gas and the Indian showed a glimpse of his endurance levels.
