Mohammad Hussamuddin (56kg) began the Indian campaign on a winning note at the 2021 ASBC Asian Boxing Championships as he defeated Makhmud Sabyrkhan in Dubai on Monday.

The Commonwealth Games bronze medallist made a cautious start against the Kazakhstan boxer.

However, with a swift movement and counter attacking display the Indian held an edge over his opponent and completed a 5-0 victory to progress into the quarter-finals.

Hussamuddin will have a strong challenge in the last-8 match from the top-seed and reigning world champion Mirazizbek Mirzahalilov of Uzbekistan on Tuesday.

The World Championships bronze medallist Simranjit Kaur and three other Indian pugilists will look to confirm medals for the country as they will fight in the quarter-finals on second day at the 2021 ASBC Asian Boxing Championships in Dubai on Tuesday.

Sakshi (54kg), Jasmine (57kg) and Sanjeet (91) are the other Indians who will be in action in the last-8 stage of their respective categories at the prestigious event which is jointly hosted by the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) and UAE Boxing Federation.

The Olympic-bound boxer Simranjit will square up against Uzbekistan’s Raykhona Kodirova in the women’s 60kg quarter-final bout. Two-time youth world champion Sakshi will take on Ruhafzo Haqazarova of Tajikistan.

In the women’s featherweight category Jasmine, who recently had a glorious maiden international outing at the Boxam Tournament where she clinched the silver medal, will be up against Mongolian boxer Oyuntsetseg Yesugen.

In the men’s section, Sanjeet, who received a bye in the first round, will face a challenge from Jakhon Qurbonov of Tajikistan.

Shiva Thapa (64kg) will also be seen competing in a last-8 round match on Tuesday if he makes progress.

The on-going Championships, which marks a return of international boxing in Asia post Covid-19 pandemic, has been witnessing the presence of 150 pugilists from 17 counties including strong boxing nations such as India, Uzbekistan, Philippines and Kazakhstan.

India’s best-ever show at the Asian Championship came in the last edition in 2019 in Bangkok where they secured an unprecedented 13 medals including two gold.

Earlier, the Asian Boxing Championships (ABC) kicked off with a glittering opening ceremony, which was graced by AIBA President Umar Kremlev amid fanfare.

A delighted Kremlev thanked the UAE for making the Asian Boxing Championships possible by hosting it in Dubai in the times of pandemic.

“I am happy to greet you at this boxing celebration. I would like to thank the UAE government and all the organizers for taking responsibility to host this important event in these difficult times with all safety measures.

“We have to create conditions for our athletes. I would like to thank athletes and coaches for their participation in the championships. Wishing all of them great performance, let the strongest win,” Kremlev said.    

A minute of silence was held in the memory of passed away Jordanian boxer Rashed Al Swaisat and BFI Executive Director Raj Kumar Sacheti. ASBC President Anas Al Otaiba expressed his sincere condolences.

He added that athletes at the Asian Boxing Championships are a role models for the continent.

Oath on behalf of referees and judges was read by Sultan Alwali from UAE and Piroska Beki from Hungary. Mary Kom from India and Majid Alnaqbi from the UAE read the oath in the name of all athletes.

Earlier, Uzbekistan arrived in the UAE with a huge delegation and the country is expecting to top the medal table.  Among the defending AIBA Men’s Elite World Champions, Uzbekistan’s trio as Shakhobiddin Zoirov (52kg), Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov (57kg) and Bakhodir Jalolov (+91kg) will be competing in Dubai.

Their medallists and champions from big events such as Nodirjon Mirzakhmedov (49kg), Abdumalik Khalakov (60kg), Elnur Abduraimov (64kg), Bobo-Usmon Baturov (69kg), Dilshodbek Ruzmetov (81kg) and Sanjar Tursunov (91kg) are also strengthening the team.

Their younger girls impressed in the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships in Kielce last month, and the Uzbek elite female boxers have also made great progress since 2019.

The Uzbeks claimed four gold medals in the previous event in Bangkok two years ago but their management is expecting more in Dubai.