<p>Shyam Kakara (49kg) had to be content with a bronze medal after losing a fiercely-contested semifinal bout as India signed off a rather disappointing performance in the World Youth Boxing Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria on Wednesday.</p>.<p>Kakara lost 1-2 to Kazakhstan’s Shalkar Aikhynbay in the last-four stage to settle for a bronze after earlier securing a ticket to the Youth Olympics by going beyond the quarters.<br /><br />It was an evenly-fought bout. The Indian lost the opening round but came back to clinch the second before falling short in the last round to go down in a split decision.<br /><br />“Shyam fought very well, the Kazakh could not quite connect his punches but still a loss is a loss. </p>.<p>The only positive is that he managed to qualify for the Youth Olympics,” team’s coach Ramanand told PTI from Sofia.<br /><br />It is a markedly disappointing show by the Indians, who were competing under the International Boxing Association’s (AIBA) flag due to the federation’s international termination.<br /><br />The country’s boxers had brought home a silver and a couple of bronze medals in the previous edition in 2012 in Armenia. </p>.<p>India’s last gold medal in the event came in 2010 when Vikas Krishan finished on top.<br /><br />After today, the only Indian interest left in the tournament is the fate of Gaurav Solanki (52kg). <br /><br />Solanki failed for a second time to qualify for the Youth Olympics after losing in a box-off on Tuesday, but will have another shot on Thursday.</p>
<p>Shyam Kakara (49kg) had to be content with a bronze medal after losing a fiercely-contested semifinal bout as India signed off a rather disappointing performance in the World Youth Boxing Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria on Wednesday.</p>.<p>Kakara lost 1-2 to Kazakhstan’s Shalkar Aikhynbay in the last-four stage to settle for a bronze after earlier securing a ticket to the Youth Olympics by going beyond the quarters.<br /><br />It was an evenly-fought bout. The Indian lost the opening round but came back to clinch the second before falling short in the last round to go down in a split decision.<br /><br />“Shyam fought very well, the Kazakh could not quite connect his punches but still a loss is a loss. </p>.<p>The only positive is that he managed to qualify for the Youth Olympics,” team’s coach Ramanand told PTI from Sofia.<br /><br />It is a markedly disappointing show by the Indians, who were competing under the International Boxing Association’s (AIBA) flag due to the federation’s international termination.<br /><br />The country’s boxers had brought home a silver and a couple of bronze medals in the previous edition in 2012 in Armenia. </p>.<p>India’s last gold medal in the event came in 2010 when Vikas Krishan finished on top.<br /><br />After today, the only Indian interest left in the tournament is the fate of Gaurav Solanki (52kg). <br /><br />Solanki failed for a second time to qualify for the Youth Olympics after losing in a box-off on Tuesday, but will have another shot on Thursday.</p>