Press Trust of India
Shillong, Feb 15: Indian boxers packed a powerful punch as they bagged all the seven gold medals on offer in the men’s event of the 12th South Asian Games here Monday.
Glasgow CWG silver medallist L Devendro Singh, who is recovering from an injury, began India’s gold rush in boxing when he pipped Mohib Ulla of Pakistan in 49kg category at the SAI campus in North Eastern Hill University on the outskirts of the city.
The other gold medallists of the day were Vikas Krishan (75kg), Shiva Thapa (56kg), Madan Lal (52kg), Dheeraj Rangi (60kg), Manoj Kumar (64kg) and Mandeep Jangra (69kg).
“It was a bit tough and my focus was to avoid any injury with the Olympic qualifiers coming up next month,” Devendro said after his bout which he won 2-1.
The Manipuri completely dominated the first and second rounds to ease to a victory.
If Devendro fought off injury to open India’s account, World No. 6 in middleweight Vikas Krishan battled flu to win the gold after defeating Tanveer Ahmed of Pakistan 3-0.
“I was running temperature after landing here. I also did not have too much strength because I was on antibiotics,” Krishan said while India’s head coach GS Sandhu felt the pugilist would have won through TKO had he been fully fit.
Guwahati lad Shiva impressed the boisterous crowd, which included his father Padam and brother Govind among others, to prevail upon Sri Lankan W Ruwan Thilina in the 56kg title bout 3-0.
In 52kg, 35-year-old former national champion Madan Lal prevailed over another Pakistani opponent Mohammad Syed Asif to be adjudged 3-0 winner in a unanimous decision.
Another from the Indian boxing hub of Haryana, 20-year-old Dheeraj, who had secured a silver medal at the World Military Games in Mungyeong, South Korea in October last year, defeated Pakistan’s Ahmed Ali for the the 60kg gold medal.
“You always try to bring your best when the opponent is from Pakistan. He was very aggressive and the idea was to stay away initially before landing blows,” Dheeraj said after his bout.
CWG silver medallist Mandeep Jangra, a protege of Akhil Kumar, survived a scare against Afghanistan’s Rahemi Alla Dad, but still emerged a unanimous 3-0 winner.
