JOIN USAmandeep, competing for team championship contenders Railways Sports Promotion Board, lost 3-4 in a hard-fought contest against Sunil, representing Haryana in the event.
Sunil, a former Commonwealth champion, will now face former world cadet champion, Uttar Pradesh’s Vipin Kumar, who entered his maiden Nationals final with a narrow 7-6 triumph over Tamil Nadu’s M Murugan.
Diwakar, also a Railways man, lost 2-4 to the 18-year-old Vikas in another major upset.
The 26-year-old Diwakar was level 2-2 with Vikas in the first round but lost hold over the bout in the next two rounds.
Vikas, a quarterfinalist at the previous Nationals, was able to connect a couple of decisive blows when Diwakar dropped his guard.
However, there were no surprises in the bantam weight 56kg division with reigning champion and the Best Boxer of previous edition Chhote Lal Yadav advancing to the finals with ease.
The Services Sports Control Board pugilist, who won a gold medal at the South Asian Games this year, outpunched Meghalaya’s Torak Kharappan 13-6 in a lopsided encounter.
The 26-year-old, however, did not get much time to celebrate his win as he rushed to the hospital to be with his mother, who was attacked by some goons while on her way to Delhi.