India wins team championship

By Our Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI, OCT. 3. Indian sub-junior boxers fought their way to the team championship by winning three gold, four silver and four bronze medals in an international meet at Cottbus, Germany.

It was an admirable performance by the pugilists in their first ever international trip. Lightweight Dilip Kumar Pouri, flyweight Balbir and bantamweight Vijender did well beyond expectations by clinching gold medals.

India had fielded 12 boxers in the competition, held from September 28 to 30, and 11 returned with medals. Only the lightweight boxer, Gautam, failed to win any medal. In the 60 kg category, Gautam lost in the first round, to Sebastian Westphal of Germany 2-19.

Prior to the tournament, the Indian boys underwent training in Germany from September 20 to 27. Though the competition was bereft of international flair, Germany had fielded six teams, representing various clubs. Poland, the third country expected to participate, pulled out at the eleventh hour.

Apart from the team championship, India had the honour of winning the `best boxer' trophy. Balbir, who defeated Florian Kotzur 20- 10 in the 51 kg final, was adjudged the best boxer of the meet.

Following the good show, the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) was planning to send a team to the World Cadet boxing championship, scheduled to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from October 11 to 22. However, as per the set rules, the Union Sports Ministry sanctions only one trip per year for a sub-junior team.

The results:

48 kg: Dilip Pouri (India - gold); first round: bye; semifinal: beat Amardeep Gurung (India) 14-9; final: beat Matthias Terruhn (Germany BCC) 10-8. Amardeep Gurung (bronze); first round: lost to Terruhn 5-9; semifinal: lost to Pouri 9-14.

51 kg: Balbir (India - gold); first round: beat Mirko Weisel (Germany SA) 15-8; second round: beat Marcus Abramowski (Germany BLN) RSC second round; final: beat Florian Kotzur (Germany BCC) 20-10. L. Sanjay Kumar (India - bronze); first round: bye; second round: lost to Kotzur 17-21.

54 kg: Vijender (India - gold); first round: beat David Sprenger (Germany FF) 7-7 (on better individual score); second round: beat Danny Beyer (Germany SA) RSC first round; final: beat Kamal Kumar (India) 14-9. Kamal Kumar (silver); first round: bye; second round: beat Benjamin Lauterbach (Germany BLN) RSC second round; final: lost to Vijender 9-14.

57 kg: Jai Bhagwan Singh (India - silver); first round: beat Alexander Wust (Germany SA) RSC third round; second round: beat Ilja Sperling (Germany BLN) 13-12; final: lost to Enrico Baunack (Germany SA) 12-4. Sonu Chahal (India - bronze); first round: bye; second round: lost to Baunack 5-19.

63.5 kg: Ajit Pal Singh (India - silver); first round: bye; second round: beat Jasvir Singh (India) RSC second round; final: lost to Rene Benirschke (Germany SN) 4-5. Jasvir Singh (bronze); first round: lost to Benirschke RSC third round; second round: lost to Ajit Pal Singh RSC second round.

67 kg: Surender (India - silver); first round: beat Tino Bruckhoff (Germany FF) 20-4; final: lost to Thomas May (Germany SN) 5-17.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Previous : Memorable outing for Amudha
Next     : Anand to play in Linares