World Jr. medalist Sandeep enters semi

Junior World Boxing Championships Sandeep Kumar

Akola, August 29: Day two of the quarter-final action at the 28^th Sub-Junior Men’s National Boxing Championship in Akola, Maharashtra and it promised to offer some enthralling action with the big names in the sub-junior circuit taking to the rings; and they did not disappoint. Bronze medallist at the 2011 Junior World Boxing Championships Sandeep Kumar, playing in the 60 kilogram weight category of the 15 & 16 years age group, secured a comprehensive victory over Sajan Chettri of Meghalaya. The stoutly built Haryana lad had an easy day at office; he dominated the bout, leading from start to finish. The 16 year old was clearly the better boxer with his superior ring craft which included some fine combinations and nifty footwork. In the end Sandeep the former sub-junior national champion, beat Chettri by a margin of six points (11-5) to advance into the next round of the championship. He will now lock horns with Karnataka boxer Angad, who beat Vikash Adhikari of Goa in a hard fought battle to book his semi-final berth.

In the 52 kilogram weight of the same age bracket, Laldinmawia of Mizoram had to work hard against S Kartick of Karnataka. Laldinmawia, a bronze medal winner at the 2010 International boxing tournament in Kazakhstan had a three point cushion after the first four minutes of play (7:4). The 15 year old seemed to lose steam in the final round, but managed to hang onto the advantage and make it to the round of four, with a 9:6 win on points. Laldinmawia is expected to have a tough fight in the semis as he squares off against defending Champion, Vishnu of the Services team. The two time sub-junior National Champion drubbed Rohan Berent of Jharkhand in one-sided contest to set up the clash.

In 48 kilogram weight division, Shyam Kumar Kakara of Andhra Pradesh – a silver medallist at the recently concluded President’s Hayder Aliyev Cup Boxing Tournament in Azerbaijan – managed to edge past the solid guard of Surender Kumar of Haryana. Both the boxers adopted a defensive approach, but Kakara was able to connect a few crucial blows that helped him take the lead and eventually the bout. He won on points 6-4. In the semi-final he will fight against Mansoor Ahamad from Chandigarh.

Naveen Kumar, the silver winner at the 2011 Junior World Boxing Championships advanced into the next round after getting a walk in his quarter-final bout against Amit Kumar of Orissa. He now takes on local lad Mohit Bisht, who beat Hajrat Mulla of Goa.