Date:23/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/23/stories/2008032356101700.htm

Sport - Boxing

Vijender, Dinesh qualify

New Delhi: Doha Asian Games bronze medallist Vijender and Dinesh Kumar booked berths for the Beijing Olympics after reaching the finals of the Asian Boxing Qualifiers in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Saturday.

While Vijender thrashed Iranian Amiri Homayon 19-13 in the middleweight category, Dinesh (81kg) outscored Mandakhbayar of Mongolia in another semifinal clash.

The duo’s qualification takes the total number of Indian boxers in Beijing Olympics to four after A.L. Lakra (57kg) and Akhil Kumar (54kg) booked places in previous qualifying events.

Vijender will next take on Korean Cho Deok Jin, while Dinesh will now be up against Iranian Ghorbani Mehdi in the finals.

National coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu also praised him. —PTI