Easy day for Diwakar

Diwakar (60kg), competing for the Railways Sports Promotion Board, put on another clinical performance to beat Jammu Kashmir’s Deepak. The referee had to stop the contest midway through the third round when one of Diwakar’s several counter-attacks left Deepak with a cut above his left eye. Diwakar, with his sharp reflexes and rhythmic foot movement, seemed a class above Deepak, who struggled to engage his more experienced rival.

In contrast, Amandeep, another Railways’ boxer, was given a rather tough fight by Devendro Singh in the light fly weight quarterfinals. The 18-year-old Manipuri kept it 0-0 in the first round but as the bout progressed, Devendro lost the tempo. Devendro’s punches lacked the power that was needed to convince the judges to award points.