Boxing News

Bangkok, April 26: Asian Games champion Amit Panghal (52 kg) on Friday won the first gold medal for India at the ongoing Asian Boxing Championships here.

Panghal, who had won the Asian Games gold medal last year, defeated Korea’s Kim Inkyu Korea in a unanimous decision, thereby clinching his second gold of the year.

The 2017 Asian Championships silver medallist had earlier decimated China’s Jianguan Hu 4-1 to march into the summit clash.

The 23-year-old, who was participating in his maiden international competition since moving up to 52kg from 49kg earlier this year, had come into the tournament on the back of a gold at the Strandja Memorial Tournament in February.

However, there was disappointment in the 49 kg category as national champion Deepak Singh had to settle for a silver after going down against Nodirjon Mirzahmedov of Uzbekistan.

Kavinder Singh Bisht also went down fighting in the finals of the 56 kg category against reigning Asian Games champion Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov of Uzbekistan.

Bangkok, April 25: Asian Games champion Amit Panghal (52kg) took a giant stride towards yet another gold medal as he led six Indians – four men and two women – into the finals of the Asian Boxing Championships here on Thursday.

In an electrifying performance, Amit, also a 2017 Asian Championships silver medallist, decimated China’s Jianguan Hu 4-1 to march into the summit clash.

In her first bout of the entire tournament, Pooja Rani (81kg) put up an immaculate display of power and precision to knock out Fariza Sholtay of Kazakhstan 5-0. This is her third medal from this prestigious tournament after a silver in 2012 and a bronze in 2015.

“I was playing in 81 for the first time and I was scared as my opponent was taller than me but once I stepped inside the ring, I got the confidence and played my attacking game. Tomorrow, I am up against the current World Champion and it will be my first time against her,” said Pooja after her semi-final victory.

Kavinder Singh Bisht was sharp and agile as ever in the 56kg semi-final bout with Enkh-Amar Kharkhuu of Mongolia. Kavinder, the GeeBee Boxing Cup gold medallist, held his nerves to secure a 4-1 win in a nerve-wracking encounter. He suffered a cut during the high-intensity contest and hopes to be fully ready for the final.

“My opponent was an aggressive boxer like me. The focus was on dodging his punches and giving it back to him and I am glad my plan worked. I am very confident for tomorrow and hopefully, will win gold for my country,” said an elated Kavinder after the bout.

Ashish Kumar (75kg) put up an audacious display to eke out Mousavi Seyedshahin of Iran in a split 3-2 win and advance to his first ever Asian Championships final.

2018 World Championships bronze medallist Simranjit Kaur (64kg) was too strong for Maftunakhon Melieva of Uzbekistan whom she got the better of in a unanimous decision.

Deepak (49kg) entered the final without having to enter the ring as his opponent had a cut and gave a walkover.

The 37-year-old Sarita Devi (60kg) had to be content with the bronze medal after going down to 2016 world champion Wenlu Yang of China. This was the veteran Manipur pugilist’s eighth Asian Championships medal of a glorious career that also has World Championships gold. Sarita had won a silver in 2001 to open her medal tally from this tournament and then added five gold medals in 2003, 2005, 2008, 2010 and 2012. In 2017 she came up with a bronze.

Shiva Thapa (60kg), who had earlier become the first Indian boxer to win medals from four consecutive Asian Championships, had to be satisfied with the bronze after he lost 1-4 to Zakir Safiullin of Kazakstan in an enthralling contest.

In 69kg, Ashish’s dream run came to an end when Uzbekistan’s Bobo-Usmon Baturov inflicted defeat on the Indian.

Former world junior champion Nikhat Zareen (51kg), who created a flutter a couple of days ago by stunning the two-time world champion Nazym Kyzaibay, had to bite the dust in a 0-5 loss to Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Tam. This bronze is her first medal from the Asian Championships.

2018 World Championships silver medallist Sonia Chahal’s (57kg) quest to clinch a gold also was interrupted by a 3-2 decision that went in favour of Asian Games bronze medallist Nilawan Techasuep of Thailand.

In her Asian Championships debut, Manisha Moun (54kg) earned a creditable bronze when she lost to Taiwan’s Huang Hsiao-Wen 2-3 in a split decision in the semi-finals.

Former Asian Games bronze medallist Satish Kumar (+91kg) had to opt out of his fight with Kamshybek Kunkabayev of Kazakhstan as he had suffered a cut.

New Delhi, April 22: In a highly-anticipated repeat of the Asian Games 49kg final, Amit Panghal (52kg) knocked out the reigning Olympic gold medallist Hasanboy Dusmatov, while Kavinder Singh Bisht (56kg) stunned 2017 world champion Kairat Yeraliyev confirming four medals for India at the Asian Boxing Championships 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday.

Ever since the draw had been announced, all eyes were on Panghal’s bout with Dusmatov, a two-time gold medallist at the Asian Championships and a world silver medallist. The Rohtak boxer was making his continental competitive debut in the 52kg this time. But the result remained the same.

In the fourth career meeting between the two, the Strandja Cup gold medallist made it two in a row over Dusmatov with a deadly 4-1 blow to lay his hands on his second medal from this competition after a bronze in 2017. It was Dusmatov who had halted Panghal’s run two years ago.

“All the strategies that I made with coaches came to good use today. I am very happy and this motivates me further to take the gold. I’ll keep making the right strategies for my next bouts as well and will return home with nothing less than a gold,” said an elated Panghal after the win.

Kavinder Singh Bisht (56kg) was the star of the show for India in the morning session on the first day of quarter-final action. Carrying his scintillating form from the GeeBeeBoxing tournament in Finland where he landed a gold, the Uttarakhand pugilist dug deep to see off 2017 world champion Kairat Yeraliyev of Kazakhstan 3-2 in a hard-fought match.

The big win over the two-time Asian Championships bronze medallist secured Bisht his maiden medal from this high-profile continental event.

The fast-rising Sonia Chahal, 21, of Haryana showed a lot of maturity and calmness in her 3-2 win over Korea’s Jo Son Hwa. This was Chahal’s second consecutive victory over Jo after getting the better of her in the World Championships semi-finals last year.

After a silver medal from the World Championships at home in 2018, the Haryana girl is now aiming for a gold at this tournament.

Makran Cup gold medallist and national champion Deepak (49kg) did not even have to enter the ring as he was given a walkover by Afghanistan’s Ramish Rahmani due to injury. The semi-final berth has insured Deepak his first Asian Championships medal.

2018 World Championships bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain (69kg), however, succumbed to a 0-5 defeat to reigning world champion Chen Nien-Chin after losing to the Chinese Taipei boxer in the semi-finals of the world event last year.

Seema Poonia (81kg) too departed from the competition following a 0-5 knockout delivered by her mighty opponent, the three-time world champion Xiaoli Yang of China.

Also to bow out was Rohit Tokas (64kg), whose journey was ended by Mongolia’s Chinzorig Baatarsukh in a tough 3-2 split decision.

New Delhi, April 21: Shiva Thapa (60kg) is now one win away from securing a record fourth medal at the Asian Boxing Championships as five Indian boxers entered the quarter-finals on day three of this prestigious continental tournament in Bangkok, Thailand, on Sunday.

The Assam pugilist was at his destructive best and outpunched Kyrgyzstan’s Seitbek Uulu M 4-1 to march into the quarter-finals.

Four-time Asian Championships gold medallist Sarita Devi began her hunt for sixth medal at this elite event in an impressive fashion. The 37-year-old blanked Korea’s Gwon Sujin and stormed into the quarter-finals by dint of RSC (referee stop contest) in round three. She proved too dominant for her opponent.

Agile and sharp as ever, Asian Games gold medallist Amit Panghal opened his campaign and made it to the last-eight with a 5-0 decimation of Taipei’s Tu Po-Wei in his first continental competitive bout in the 52kg.

Panghal has continued his sublime form this year after starting the new season with a glittering gold from the Strandja Cup and hope to record his second consecutive victory over the reigning Olympic champion Hasanboy Dusmatov in the highly-anticipated quarter-final showdown.

Former world junior champion Nikhat Zareen (51kg) was at her imperious best in her opening bout against Cambodia’s Srey Pov Nao. The Telangana pugilist who started the season with a gold medal at the Strandja Cup advanced to the quarters by RSC in round two as her rival couldn’t contain the flurry of punches.

In men’s 69kg, Ashish continued his scintillating run with a 4-1 win over Abdurakhman Abdurakhmanov of Kyrgyzstan in a split verdict to book his quarter-final berth.

The only disappointment for the Indian contingent during the day was defeat of Brijesh Yadav in 81kg. Yadav’s opponent Dilshodbek Ruzmetov of Uzbekistan was declared 4-0 winner after he received a cut in round two of the bout. That necessitated termination of the match and based on the two rounds of performances, judges voted for the Uzbek.

Thailand, April 20: Shiva Thapa (60kg) inched one step closer to adding a record-breaking fourth medal from the Asian Boxing Championships by entering the pre-quarterfinals as 2018 World Championships bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) and Makran Cup gold medallist Deepak (49kg) made it to the last-eight of this continental tournament here on Saturday.

Thapa secured a thrilling 4-1 win over Korea’s Kim Wonho and is now a couple of wins away from a medal to add to the gold, bronze and silver that he won in 2013, 2015 and 2017 editions respectively. The Assam pugilist will next take on Kyrgyzstan’s Seitbek Uulu M for a place in the quarter-finals on Sunday.

Lovlina Borgohain, also of Assam, began her medal quest in thunderous fashion by outpunching Vietnam’s Tran Thi Linh 5-0 to advance to the quarter-finals. Up next on Monday for the 2019 Strandja Cup bronze medallist is a stiff challenge in the form of Chinese Taipei’s Chen Nien-Chin, the very girl she lost to in the semi-finals of the World Championships in New Delhi last year.

National champion Deepak continued his good form at this elite event with yet another commanding 5-0 win over Sri Lanka’s Mutunaka Pedi Gedara.

All eyes will be on Asian Games gold medallist Amit Panghal (52kg) as he will begin his challenge on Sunday against Taipei’s Tu Po-Wei.

Amit, likely to face reigning Olympic champion Hasanboy Dusmatov of Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals, has been oozing confidence as he began the 2019 season with a gold medal at the Strandja Cup Boxing Tournament.

Ashish (69 kg) and Brijesh Yadav (81kg) too will be in action on Sunday.

On the women’s side, four-time Asian Championships gold medallist Sarita Devi (60kg) will start her hunt for her sixth medal from this tournament when she enters the ring against Korea’s Gwon Sujin.

Former world junior champion Nikhat Zareen (51kg) too will seek her second international medal of the year after a gold at the Strandja Cup as she takes on Srey Pov Nao of Cambodia.

Bangkok, April 19: Asian Games gold-medallist Amit Panghal will make his competitive debut in the new weight class of 52 kg in the Asian Boxing Championship which begins here on Friday, and is eyeing the tournament as a platform to understand the strength and weaknesses of Asian boxers in the new category.

The Rohtak-born boxer was forced to shift to the new category as the 49 kg was dropped from the Olympic programme last month by the AIBA, amateur boxing’s world governing body.

Speaking to IANS, Panghal said it will be a challenging task to play in a complete new category however, he has worked on it and is hopeful of another successful tournament.

“It has been a challenge as you need more power and reach in 52 kg. There has been a lot of focus on this aspect and I have worked on it. As more power is involved, I have tried to gain weight,” the 23-year-old said.

Regarding the championship, Panghal said: “I will be playing in 52 kg for the first time. It is a good oppurtunity to know the Asian boxers in this category as it is an olympic weight and it will help me for my World championship prepration.”

With back to back medals in different tournaments in the recent past, Panghal said there wouldn’t be any pressure on him to perform.

“There is not that much pressure as it is my first tournament in this category. The focus will be on knowing the opponent and I will prepare accordingly,” he said.

When asked about Indian boxers’ chances to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, Panghal seemed confident that most of the Indian boxers will seal their place for the mega event.

“Our training has been really good and I think, majority of the boys will qualify. Chief national coach C.A. Kuttappa has made a lot of changes and has trained us really well. The exposure and training has been really great and that is why I believe most of us will be there.”

Panghal however felt the AIBA’s decision to reduce the number of categories in men’s boxing in the Olympics from 10 to eight wasn’t good for Indian boxing as many of the ace boxers competed in those categories.

“We have really good boxers in those two categories and losing them was not good. I think it will affect Indian boxing but we can’t do much to it and so, we are just focusing on to prepare for the new categories,” he concluded.

New Delhi, April 13: The Indian women boxing squad will be leaving for Bangkok early next week to participate in the Asian championship without star pugilist M.C. Mary Kom. However, it doesnot perturb chief coach Mohammed Ali Qamar, who is confident of a good show.

“In the 2017 Asian meet, we won one gold, one silver and four bronze medals. This time we should do equally well, if not better,” Qamar told IANS on Saturday.

The only gold medal in 2017 meet was won by Mary Kom in the 48kg. “Mary’s absence is definitely a blow. We are going without her since she has decided to skip the meet to prepare for the World championship in the new 51-kg category. But there are young boxers, who are capable of shining for India,” Qamar said.

“Mind it, the Asian championship (April 16 to 27) is going to be extremely tough…..there will be top boxers involved. If we do well here, our confidence will be high for the World meet,” warned the Indian chief coach.

Qamar was a celebrated light flyweight boxer during his career – his name got etched in Indian sporting history in 2002 when he became the first Indian to win a boxing gold medal in Commonwealth Games. Presently holding the charge of Indian women’s team, Qamar is amazed by the depth of women’s boxing in India.

“I shall not be surprised if India win gold medal in 48-kg or 64-kg categories,” Qamar said without naming any particular boxer. While Nitu would be India’s representative in 48-kg, Simranjit Kaur would spearhead India’s challenge in 64-kg. In the World championship in Delhi last November, Simranjit won the bronze medal.

Apart from Simranjit, two other Indian medal winners in the World meet, Sonia Chahal (silver in 57-kg) and Lovlina Borgohain (bronze in 69-kg) are also there in the squad.

“There is a huge depth in Indian women boxing now. During our time, only a handful of girls played the sport. Since women’s boxing has been introduced in Olympics, lots of nations, including Europeans have come up. Cuba did not do much, but now that there are five weight categories in Olympics, they may also try it out,” said Qamar.

“The change in India is big. Previously, there were women boxers, who won titles at the national level many years at a stretch. Now things are completely different with the new generation. Even in national camp, you will find 50-odd women boxers. Beside this, there are many girls, who are capable of representing India..may be they lack in experience. The competition has become tough,” added Qamar.

New Delhi, April 11: Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Pinki Rani (51kg) and reigning youth world champion Sakshi (57kg) assured India of its third and fourth medal by entering the semi-finals of the Cologne Boxing World Cup 2019 in Cologne, Germany, on Thursday.

Continuing her impeccable form, the India Open gold medallist Rani put up yet another dominating performance to blank Thailand’s Phunsang Cahiranchaya 5-0 in the quarter-final bout. The 18-year-old Sakshi won in contrasting fashion. She faced stiff resistance from Cecille Kelle of Denmark. The Indian had to dig deep to stave off the Dane’s challenge before she won by a split decision on points.

The Indian contingent is confirmed of at least a silver and a bronze after Meena Kumari Maisnam and Pwilao Basumatary reached the final and semi-finals in the 54kg and 64kg, respectively. With only three boxers in the fray in the 54kg category, Strandja Memorial gold medallist Maisnam was directly placed in the final.

Similarly, due to the 64kg category having just five pugilists, Basumatary, a bronze medallist at Strandja Memorial, is through to the semi-finals.

Earlier in the day, Anjali Tushir’s campaign came to an end following her 0-5 loss to Yvonne Baek Rasmussen of Denmark in the opening round of the 69kg category.

India has sent a seven-member team to this European event, following a healthy haul of six medals at the erstwhile Chemistry Cup, held at Halle last year. Gaurav Solanki (52kg) and Mohammed Hussamuddin (56kg) were the only Indians to stand on the top podium in the last edition.

21 nations are taking part in 17 weight categories at this tournament and it will help elite boxers hone skills ahead of the World Championships later this year.

eijing, March 23: International Boxing Federation (AIBA) president Gafur Rahimov has resigned on the eve of the decisive IOC executive meeting on Sunday,

In a statement, Rahimov rejected the allegations of him having ties to organized crime and announced his resignation late on Friday, reports Xinhua news agency.

“I attest and confirm that the allegations against me were fabricated and based on politically motivated lies; I trust that the truth will prevail,” he said in a statement.

“Nevertheless, I have always said that I would never put myself above Boxing, and as President, I have a duty to do everything in my power to serve our sport and our athletes,” he said.

“Given the current situation, I have informed the AIBA Executive Committee of my intent to step aside as AIBA President in accordance with the AIBA Statutes and Bylaws,” the statement read.

Rahimov, an Uzbek businessman who has been accused by the US authorities of having ties to organized crime, was elected the president of AIBA in November last year.