Two Indian boxers Aditya Maan (66kg) and Ashish (63kg) cruised into the quarterfinals of the AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships along with contrasting victories in the last-16 stage of the tournament at Kiev in Ukraine.
However, it was disappointment for 2013 Junior Asian Championship bronze-medalist Vishnu Dayanand Chayal (57kg), who is the third Indian to occupy a place in the pre-quarters of the championship as he ended up on the losing side.
In addition Maan, who is a bronze medal winner at the Junior Continental Championships earlier this year, crashed into the pre-quarters by hammering boxer Laszlo Kozak of Hungary in a close contest. Maan made a strong start in the round of 16 against Javier Estrada from the USA pushing the fight to the American. Notably, the Indian gained a lucid advantage and placed Estrada on the back-foot with some furious straight punches. Moreover, he did not allow his rival to come close and continued to win by virtue of a unanimous decision. Next, he will clash with Cassio Olivera Santos of Brazil in the quarters.
Further in the light welterweight category, Ashish, who is playing his very first international tournament, dismissed Marcel Rumpler of Austria in the second round winning by virtue of a Referee Stopped Contest – Outclassed decision.
Moreover, the 15-year-old from Chandigarh once again proved himself as he marked a unanimous victory against Jegors Artjomovs of Latvia in the pre-quarter finals. He will lock horns with Shabbos Negmatulloev of Tajikistan in the quarter-finals.
Unfortunately in the featherweight category, Vishnu's World Championship campaign ended at the hands of English boxer Dalton Smith. However, the 16-year-old Indian showcased a strong show against some quality boxing return from the Brit, although he lost by just one point at the end.
Earlier in the competition, ruling Asian lightweight Champion Prayag Chauhan (60kg) lost his opening bout to Muzaffar Rashidov of Uzbekistan which proved to be disappointing.
In the light flyweight category Gaurav Solanki lost in the opening round too against Han Younghun of Korea.
