Devendro enters quarters, Shiva ousted from CWG
Indian boxer L. Devendro Singh (49kg) advanced to the quarterfinals with a hard-fought win after reigning Asian champion Shiva Thapa (56kg) was shockingly sent packing as the pre-quarterfinal bouts of the 20th Commonwealth Games got underway here today.
Asian Championships silver-medallist Devendro made the quarterfinals after notching up a tough 2—1 victory over Sri Lanka’s Madushan Gamage.
The Indian started off confidently, getting a perfect-ten score from all three judges in the opening three minutes. The next round was not as lopsided but Devendro, who looks to drain the opponent with a flurry of punches, was taken by surprise in the next round when Gamage came back strongly to clinch it 29—28.
However, the Indian youngster muzzled the challenge in the deciding three minutes, snatching it 30—28 to be just one more win away from assuring himself of a medal in his debut Commonwealth Games.
The 22-year-old Manipuri will face Scotland’s Aqeel Ahmed in the last-eight stage on July 30.
On a disappointing note, Thapa (56kg) went down to Olympic bronze-medallist Michael Conlan of Northern Ireland. The Assam boxer found the going tough against the crowd favourite despite the fact that Conlan had endured a cut on his head during his opening bout.
Conlan dominated the opening round, winning it 30—28. The second and third rounds were a tad closer but the Irishman held his own to outwit Shiva.
To add to his woes, Shiva also ended up getting warned for clinching and bending too much.
Yesterday, Sumit Sangwan began his campaign with a comfortable 3—0 win over Mohammed Hakimu Fumu to reach the quarterfinals of the 81kg category.
21-year-old Sangwan was dominant in all three rounds and the judges declared him the clear winner.
He will now fight it out with New Zealand’s Davis Nyika for a place in the semifinals on Tuesday.
Manoj Kumar also booked a berth in quarterfinals of the the 64kg category with a 2—0 win over Canada’s Arthur Biyarslanov. Manoj next faces Briton Samuel Maxwell.
