New Delhi:
Dinesh Kumar failed to make the medal round after being outclassed by Russian Artur Beterbiev in the light heavy weight quarterfinals on Wednesday, leaving Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh (75kg) as India's lone medal hope in the World Boxing Championships in Milan, Italy.
The 22-year-old's ouster leaves middle weight top seed Vijender as the lone Indian survivor in the mega event. The world number two will take on Sergiy Derevyanchenko of Ukraine in his quarterfinal bout.
Dinesh was trailing 3-5 and had survived three standing counts before a fourth count just over a minute into the second round prompted the referee to award the bout to Beterbiev.
"A loss always hurts but I am happy to have at least reached the last-eight stage. It was always going to be tough against Beterbiev, who is a World Cup gold medallist, but I know I gave my best," Dinesh said from Milan.
National coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu also lauded Dinesh's performance.
"He has does well for himself and goes back a better boxer. A disappointing result today but I am glad with what he has done," he said.
Late last night, Vijender got the better of Canadian Steve Rolls 4-2 to make the last eight stage to be just one win away from notching up India's maiden medal at boxing's blue-ribbon event.
"It was low scoring and there were some tense moments but I am happy to have come out on top in the end," Vijender said. The Haryana-boxer was trailing 0-1 in the opening round but drew form his experience and long reach to get the better of his rival.
"The scoring was tough but the support that I got from my team, coaches and the fans here was enough to keep me focused," he said.
Vijender landed a couple of straight punches to end the second round 2-1 up. drew form his experience and long reach to get the better of his rival.
"The scoring was tough but the support that I got from my team, coaches and the fans here was enough to keep me focused," he said.
Vijender landed a couple of straight punches to end the second round 2-1 up.
In the third round, Vijender increased his lead by a couple of more points and spent the final few seconds of the bout dodging his opponent with intelligent footwork.
"I know I am on the verge of another historic first but I am not nervous and feeling quite confident about winning my next bout," the 23-year-old world number two, who takes on Ukraine's Sergiy Derevyanchenko in the last-eight stage, said.
"I have never competed against this Sergiy. He comes from a country that has a good reputation internationally but I am confident about my game. I am in good form and feeling fit. So, I hope to be at the winning end."