Vikas crushes European champ; Vinka, Poonam enter quarterfinals

New Delhi, April 15

Five Indian boxers registered remarkable victories on the second day of boxing’s Youth World Championships, the most notable win being 52kg specialist Vikas upsetting reigning European youth champion Yasen Radev of Bulgaria. It was a second successive all-win day for Indian boxers at the event in Kielce (Poland), with two from the women’s contingent advancing to the quarterfinals with dominant triumphs.

Haryana girls Poonam Poonia (57kg) and Vinka (60kg) won their bouts comprehensively to make the last-eight stage. While Poonam defeated Hungary’s Beata Varga, Vinka sailed past Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Tara Bohatjuk. Both the bouts were stopped by the referee before the three rounds could be completed.

Top show by Vikas

Among the men, Asian youth silver-medallist Ankit Narwal (64kg) advanced to the second round after a comprehensive 5-0 win over Slovakia’s Miroslav Herceg. Next up for him is Uzbekistan’s Akhmadjon Akhmedov, who got a bye in the opening round.

In the 91kg category, Vishal Gupta notched up a unanimous victory over Bulgaria’s Georgi Stoev to enter the round of 16. He will square off against Croatia’s Borna Loncaric.

In the 52kig category, Vikas started cautiously but soon took charge with an aggressive intent. The Indian made Radev, a gold medallist at the recent Adriatic Pearl tournament, work hard with his swift and precise punches, winning 5-0. Vikas will now square off against Mongolia’s Sukhbat Enkhzorigt in the second round tomorrow. — TNS