By Ravi Kant Singh, IANS
Hyderabad : India’s P. Narjit Singh, Thoi Thoi Singh, D. Bhagyarajan and Mohinder Thapa marched into the quarter-finals in their respective weight categories in the boxing competition of the 4th Military World Games at the G.M.C. Balayogi Indoor Stadium here Wednesday.
Two other Indians – Sanjay Kolte and Amarjit Singh – failed to advance.
India now has eight boxers one win away from a medal when the quarterfinal bouts begin Thursday.
Narjit led the way in the 57 kg class when he had to put in every ounce of energy against Ma Yun Ho of China before emerging 9-1 winner on points. It was an unexpectedly one-sided contest as both pugilists seemed wary of each other and spent more time stalking rather than throwing punches at each other.
In the 64 kg bout, Thoi Thoi Singh had a fight on his hands against Ivan Yachmenev, winning 18-16. The Indian trailed in the first two rounds but found his bearings through the final two and cleverly used his left jab to score with hits to his opponent’s head.
D. Bhagyarajan also had a tough opponent in China’s Han Lei of China but emerged 18-14 winner in the 68 kg class. The Indian took advantage of his superior height and managed to keep the Chinese at bay in the fourth and final round after having built up the lead in the first three rounds.
Mohinder Thapa, in the 81 kg class, virtually toyed with A. Mursal of Sudan to emerge 26-5 winner. Thapa had to chase his opponent round the ring to make contact and the Sudanese boxer took the standing eight counts twice in the second and third rounds when the Indian southpaw connected with his left hooks.
Kolte in the 51 kg class fought a gallant bout against Gu Sung Hyeok of South Korea but ended a 20-24 loser. The Indian seemed in control early in the bout but seemed to run out of ideas when the Korean came out charging in the third and fourth rounds and paid the penalty.
Amarjit Singh was hopelessly outclassed by Micalai Vesialov of Belarus 12-4 in the 75 kg class.