Balwinder Beniwal (69kg) and Thokchom Nanao Singh (48kg) entered the quarterfinals but with losses in three other categories, it turned out to be a mixed day for India at the inaugural AIBA Youth World Boxing Championship in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Balwinder, Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh’s cousin and a gold medallist at the just-concluded Commonwealth Youth Games, beat Puerto Ricop’s Jonuel Tapia 23-6 in yet another dominating performance yesterday.
The Haryana-boxer next faces German Satula Abdulai.
Nanao Singh, another CYG gold medallist, was equally clinical in a sensational 22-4 win over European cadet champion Mikoya Butsenko of Ukraine.
Nanao Singh will now be up against Uzbek Jasurbek Latipov in the last-eight stage.
However, there was disappointment for India in three other categories.
In the light weight division, Neeraj Goyat lost 7-13 to Russia’ Vage Sarukhanyan.
V Santosh Kumar gave a walkover to Javier Minor Mendoza Salazar of Costa Rica in the light welter weight pre-quarters.
But most disappointing was Bajrang’s heartbreaking loss on count-back in the bantam weight category. The Indian was tied 7-7 with Dominican Republic’s Angel Miguel Queliz de la Cruz at the end of four rounds before losing on individual judges’ count. PTI
