Date:20/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/20/stories/2008032056032100.htm

Sport - Boxing

Dinesh in semifinals

New Delhi: Dinesh Kumar is just one win away from securing a berth for the Beijing Olympics after the Indian stormed into the semifinals of the second Asian boxing qualifiers with a knock-out win over Syrian Mohammad Hasan in the 81kg category in Astana, Kazakhstan on Wednesday.

Dinesh delivered a combination of a right hook to the chin and a left uppercut to his opponent’s body to win the bout which barely lasted a few seconds.

Dinesh will now take on Mandakhbayar of Mongolia in the last-four stage and even a silver finish would fetch him a berth for Beijing.

Compatriot K.T.T. Singh, however, crashed out in the second round after losing 4-9 to Turkmenistan’s Hudayberdiev Serdar in the 60kg category.

National champion Dilbag Singh (69kg) and Praveen Kumar (+91kg) have reached the semifinals. — PTI