Panghal seals spot in semis as India assured of record 15 medals

The World Championship silver medallist Amit Panghal lived up to his reputation as he defeated Kharkhuu Enkhmandakh 3-2 in the 52kg quarter-finals at the 2021 ASBC Asian Boxing Championships in Dubai on Wednesday.

Vikas Krishan and Varinder also registered victories and assured India two more medals to take tally to 15 — country’s best-ever medal haul at the Asian Championships surpassing 13 medals of the 2019 edition.

In the 52kg last-8 match, both Panghal and Enkhmandakh started the contest in a contrasting manner. While Indian made a cautious start, Mongolian boxer was aggressive from the word go. However, despite making a defensive start, Panghal quickly shifted gears as both the boxers saw exchanging some heavy blows in fast paced fierce battle.  With some timely and precise punches, the top seeded Panghal edged past the opponent. His tactical brilliance put himself ahead of Enkhmandakh and tilted the verdict in his favour in a closely-fought game.  

With this victory, the defending champion Panghal progressed into semi-finals and confirmed his third successive Asian Championships medal after gold in 2019 and bronze in 2017. In the last-4 clash, Panghal will take on Kazakh boxer Saken Bibossinov, whom he beat in the 2019 World Championships semi-finals.

Extending India’s winning-run on Day 3 of the Championships, which is jointly hosted by the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) and UAE Boxing Federation, Varinder (60kg) outclassed Samuel Dela Cruz of Philippines 5-0 in one-sided quarter-final and handed India its 14th medal at the prestigious event. He will now square off against Iran’s Daniyal Shahbakhsh in the last-four stage.

In the third Indian bout of the day, World Championships bronze medallist Krishan defeated Iran’s Moslem Malamir 4-1 in 69kg semi-finals. Vikas will face stiff challenge from top seed and defending Champion Bobo Usmon Baturov of Uzbekistan in the semi-finals.

Having secured medal in each category, 10 Indian women boxers including Six-time world champion MC Mary Kom (51kg), Simranjit (60kg), Sakshi (54kg), Jaismine (57kg), Lalbuatsaihi (64kg), Lovlina Borgohain (69kg), Pooja Rani (75kg), Monika (48kg), Saweety (81kg) and Anupama (+81kg) will play their respective semi-finals on Thursday.

Earlier on Tuesday, Tokyo-bound Simranjit Kaur alongside two other boxers made their way into the semi-finals.

With Simranjit (60kg), Sakshi (54kg) and Jaismine (57kg) progressing into the last-4 stage and MC Mary Kom (51kg), Lalbuatsaihi (64kg), Lovlina Borgohain (69kg), Pooja Rani (75kg), Monika (48kg), Saweety (81kg) and Anupama (+81kg) kick starting their campaign in the semi-finals, women’s team confirmed India a medal in each weight category.

The World Championships bronze medallist Punjab’s Simranjit defeated Uzbek boxer Raykhona Kodirova 4-1 in the 60kg quarter-finals bout to confirm her second successive medal at the Asian Championships. Simrajit, who had won silver in the last edition of the event in 2019, will take on Rimma Volossenko of Kazakhstan in the semi-finals on Thursday.

Sakshi and Jasmine also managed comfortable victories in their respective categories. While Sakshi blanked Ruhafzo Haqazarova of Tajikistan 5-0 to set up a last-4 clash against 2016 World Champion and top-seed from Kazakhstan Dina Zholaman, Jaismine beat Mongolian Oyuntsetseg Yesugen 4-1 to confirm her maiden medal at the Asian Championships. Jasmine will take on Vladislava Kukhta of Kazakhstan in the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, Unubold Orkhontungalag, a newcomer in the Mongolian national team,  defeated Sri Lanka’s Sajeewa Nuwan in the first preliminary round of the light flyweight (49kg).

The Mongolian had to compete in the second competition of the day against Kyrgyzstan’s veteran Mirlan Turkbay Uulu who claimed bronze in the last edition.

The Kyrgyz boxer was smaller than his Mongolian opponent but he was not able to keep the distance well in the first round. Turkbay Uulu turned up the heat in the second but his efforts were not enough to turn back their contest in Dubai. Unubold will be facing for the final place with Uzbekistan’s defending Asian Champion Nodirjon Mirzakhmedov.

The on-going Championships has been witnessing the presence of 150 boxers from 17 countries including strong boxing nations such as India, Uzbekistan, Philippines and Kazakhstan.