Gangtok: Five Delhi and four Uttar Pradesh boxers registered comprehensive victories on the opening day of the sixth Youth Men’s National Boxing Championships here on Wednesday.
In the 54 kg round of 32 bout, Umesh Kumar started the proceedings for Delhi with a clinical display in a 5-0 unanimous win over Pawan Ventada of Arunachal Pradesh in a one-sided affair.
In the 75 kg middleweight category, Delhi’s Aditya Bist and Assam’s Ganga Rabha fought fiercely in one of the most thrilling matches of the day. Both the boxers were at their attacking best right from the beginning and didn’t allow any breathing space to each other. Eventually, Aditya displayed his prowess and emerged victorious in a 4-3 split verdict to reach the pre-quarterfinals.
Three other Delhi boxers- Kapil Dev (60kg), Arman Singh Phogat (67kg) and Jay Tushir (92 kg) – won their respective bouts with the referee stopping the contest (RSC) as the pugilists from the national capital showed their dominance. The trio advanced to the round of 16 stage after their respective wins.
The boxers from Uttar Pradesh also had a great day in the ring. Rohit Yadav (57kg) led the way with his first round knockout win against Meghalaya’s Khrawkupar Thangkiew. He will take on Haryana’s Akshat in the pre-quarterfinal.
Samir Ul Haq (51 kg), Karan (60 kg) and Vishal Tomar (71 kg) were the other boxers from UP to win their respective round of 32 bouts.
2021 Asian Junior Champion Rohit Chamoli, who is representing Chandigarh in the 54 kg weight category, got a walkover over Chattisgarh’s Himanshu Verman and moved to the round of 16.
The championships will witness participation of 337 budding boxers willing to make their mark at the national level.
