Dingko gives a dazzling display

BANGKOK, APRIL 2. India's chances of getting more berths in Sydney Olympics boxing event received a shot in the arm as Asian Games bantamweight gold medallist, Ng Dingko Singh, gave a dazzling display in the ring, in his favourite city, thrashing Cambodia's Mean Soeun to move into the next round of the King's Cup tournament here on Sunday.

It was a good day for India as Narender Rana also chalked out a facile win in the lightweight category outslugging Phay Sithong Kouang Vanh of Laos.

With this four Indians have made it to the next round. On Saturday H. Srinivas Rao (flyweight) and Sanjit Singh (light welter) had won their bouts.

Dingko, winner of gold here in the 1998 Asian Games, was far superior to his opponent and recorded a rather easy win. He had no problems in landing his punches on Soeun from the first bell and held sway in the opening round.

Narender Rana also did not face much resistance from his rival Kouangvanh as he stormed into the quarterfinals. Rana adopted a `slow and sure' policy, taking his time with the punches but making each oen count. Kouangvanh tried to fight back at the end of the first round by landing a punch squarely on the Indian's face. But Rana barely missed a step.

The second round was virtually a repeat of the first. The referee called off the contest to save Kouangvanh from being thrashed more.

In Monday's quarterfinals H. Sriniwas Rao and Sanjit Singh will be back in the ring. Rao will clash with Choe Phyong Chol (South Korea) while Sanjit will take on Stvie Binalay (Indonesia).

Earlier local heroes Chotipat Wongprates (54kg) and Pongsit Wiangwiswas (60kg) posted victories much to the delight of the capacity partisan crowd.

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Section  : Sport
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