Date:16/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/16/stories/2007101660691900.htm

Sport

Indian pugilists off to a great start

V.V. Subrahmanyam

Satyaraju impresses in his win

— PHOTO: P.V. SIVAKUMAR

IN COMMAND: India’s Satyaraju (right) was in control in his 64kg bout against Filali Nasreddine of Algeria.

HYDERABAD: India was off to a dream start in the boxing competitions as all its four boxers in action — P. Narjit Singh, G. Satyaraju, D. Bhagyarajan and Thoi Thoi Singh — scored comfortable wins in the preliminary round of the fourth Military World Games at Gachibowli Indoor Stadium here on Monday.

The most creditable performance came from the 23-year-old Satyaraju of Army Signals, who won 27-17 on points against Filali Nasreddine of Algeria in the 64kg weight category. Satyaraju, who was trailing 2-9 initially, moved into top gear when it mattered most.

“Definitely, I was nervous to start for it was a major competition for me. But soon, I stuck to the coach’s (Louis Enriwque) advice not to attack but feint to control the bout,” he remarked later.

Satyaraju, the silver medallist in the Senior Nationals, came up with the right combination of left and right hooks in the final rounds.

“I am really happy with the start considering the fact that I was a replacement for Som Bahadur Pun (Commonwealth gold medallist) who had to pull out after indisposition,” the Indian boxer reminded.

Comfortable win

Twenty-six-year-old D. Bhagyarajan was in his element while scoring a far more comfortable 19-3 win (RSC) over Moejane Tello of Russia in the 69kg category.

“It was a normal bout and I was confident from the start,” said the happy Indian boxer.

P. Narjit Singh outpunched Ruben Nampala of Namibia and won when the referee stopped the contest in the third round of their 54kg category bout.

Thoi Thoi Singh beat Imad Benkhaoula of Algeria in the 60 kg category with a 19-9 verdict on points.

The results: 54kg: P.Narjit Singh (Ind) bt Ruben Nampala (Nam) RSC 3rd round; Ma Yunhao (Chn) bt Ouadahi Md. Amine (Alg) 20-13; Zinat Jandybayev (Rus) bt Kikhtenko Andriy (Ukr) 23-9; Holmuratov Ulugbek (Uzb) bt Nguyen Trong (Vie) 32-9.

64 kg: G. Satyaraju (Ind) bt Filali Nasreddine (Alg) 27-17 on points; Herbert Nkabiti (Bot) bt Abdul Zahir (Afg) retd. 3rd round; Lee Chun Suk (Kor) bt Mohamedabdel Rahman (Qat) 22-2 RSC; Miguel Cobo (Bel) bt Alsbhli Mohamad (UAE) 15-0 RSC 2nd round; Melis Walter (Ita) bt Yassir Khuaja Digiel (Sud) RSC 3rd round; Ramashkevich Yauheni (Blr) bt Ayvazidi Artem (Ukr) 17-15 on points; Makina Pregacious (Zam) bt Kamal Raghay (Mar) 26-6 on points; Wheatle Shawn (Jam) bt Tho Van (Vie) 17-8 on points.

60kg: Matveichik Vladimir (Ukr) bt G. Mpotsang (Bot) 11-4 on points; Thoi Thoi Singh (Ind) bt Benkhaoula Imad (Alg) 19-9; Ivan Yachmenev (Rus) bt Quatine Mahdi (Mar) 14-0 on points.

69kg: D. Bhagyarajan (Ind) bt Moejane Tello (Les) 19-3 RSC; Kerin Bostjan (Slo) bt Qzyurt Hakan (Tur) 18-2; Karimov Rinat (Ger) bt Abaka NIkson (Ken) 26-17; Dilvisa Diego (Ita) bt Nuraydin Hakan Mursit (Qat) 15-10; Ivanov Dimitry (Rus) bt Keita Kemoko (Gui) 16-1; H. Rawshan (Uzb) bt Melson Boyd (USA) 17-12; Mukelabai (Zam) bt R. Brown Ricardo (Jam) 6-3.