Resounding start by Indian boxers in Asian meet

Indian boxers made a resounding start at the Asian Championships with Paramjit Samota (+91kg) assuring himself of a medal by booking a semifinal berth and two others advancing to the quarterfinals of the event in Zhuhai, China on Sunday.

In flyweight (51kg), Suranjoy Singh outclassed Lam Tat Ming of Hong Kong. The Manipur boxer, also the reigning national champion, led 8-1 before the referee stopped the contest in the second round due to Suranjoy’s total domination.

This was followed by Olympian Dinesh Kumar’s thumping win in his light heavyweight (81kg) opening bout. The 22-year-old Haryana lad defeated Firaz Batlouni of Lebanon in a lop-sided bout that had to be stopped in the very first round.

Meanwhile, Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh (75kg) faces a tricky opening bout on Tuesday against Atoev Abbos of Uzbekistan, who was a light heavyweight boxer until last year. “It is a tough opening bout but I am prepared. He was light heavyweight gold medallist at the 2007 Chicago World Championships but then he lost his very first bout in Beijing Olympics,” Vijender said.

“He shifted to middleweight some time ago and that should work to my advantage.”