Vikash Malik (60kg) notched up India’s first win at the ongoing World Boxing Championships as he beat Kyrgyzstan’s Meder Mamakeev to enter the second round of the mega-event on Tuesday.
The reigning national champion, the lone Indian in action on the day, prevailed over Mamakeev 3-0 to enter the second round where he will be up against Poland’s POL Dawid Michelus on October 20. Michelus got a first-round bye. Vikash, who was a pre-quarterfinalist at the Asian Championships in June, was trailing in the opening round when the individual scores handed out under the new 10-point system, which evaluates the boxer not just on the number of punches connected but also his overall ring-craft.
However, he roared back in the next two rounds, impressing the judges, who were unanimous in picking him the winner. On Wednesday, Asian Championships silver-medallist Mandeep Jangra (69kg) will make his World Championships debut when he takes on Tanazania’s Selemani Kidunda.
The 20-year-old Mandeep, who got a gold medal in his debut senior international event this year, is being seen as a brilliant prospect by the coaches. The country’s pugilists are competing under AIBA flag.
The reigning national champion, the lone Indian in action on the day, prevailed over Mamakeev 3-0 to enter the second round where he will be up against Poland’s POL Dawid Michelus on October 20. Michelus got a first-round bye. Vikash, who was a pre-quarterfinalist at the Asian Championships in June, was trailing in the opening round when the individual scores handed out under the new 10-point system, which evaluates the boxer not just on the number of punches connected but also his overall ring-craft.
However, he roared back in the next two rounds, impressing the judges, who were unanimous in picking him the winner. On Wednesday, Asian Championships silver-medallist Mandeep Jangra (69kg) will make his World Championships debut when he takes on Tanazania’s Selemani Kidunda.
The 20-year-old Mandeep, who got a gold medal in his debut senior international event this year, is being seen as a brilliant prospect by the coaches. The country’s pugilists are competing under AIBA flag.