The Hindu : Sport / Boxing : Fine win for Vijender

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Thursday, May 29, 2008
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Fine win for Vijender

New Delhi: Doha Asiad bronze medallist Vijender notched up one of the most memorable wins of his career as he stunned reigning Olympic champion Bakhtiyar Artayev of Kazakhstan to advance to the semifinals of the inaugural AIBA President’s Cup in Sinjhuang City, Chinese Taipei.

The Arjuna Awardee middleweight pugilist beat Artayev 12-7 in the quarterfinals on Tuesday to take revenge for the defeat that the Kazakh had handed out to him in the Asiad semifinals.

Vijender led throughout the four rounds and flustered his opponent with lightening fast straight punches and jabs to script his sensational win, which ensured him a medal. It would be a morale-booster for Vijender, who had also defeated Olympic welterweight bronze medallist Kim Jung Joo of Korea in an exhibition match in New Delhi a couple of years ago, as he prepares for the Beijing Olympics, to be staged in August.

The Haryana boxer now meets Thai Angkhan Chomphuphuang in the last four stage on Friday.

The other Indians in action, however, disappointed. While A.L. Lakra lost to Dmytro Bulenkov of Ukraine in the opening round of the 57 kg category, Jitender went down to Yunusov Anvar of Tajikistan in 51 kg.

The President’s Cup is being contested by boxers who have made it to the Olympics. — PTI

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