Date:12/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/12/stories/2008121256601900.htm

Sport - Boxing

Dinesh Kumar in semifinals

Moscow: Dinesh Kumar became the second Indian to assure himself of a medal at the AIBA boxing World Cup after he defeated Algeria’s Abdelhafid Benchabla 17-11 to enter the semifinals in the light-heavyweight division here.

The Haryana boxer will face Vladimir Cheles in the semifinals on December 13 after the Russian beat Artur Beterbeiv of Maldives 5-1 in the other quarterfinal.

Sweet revenge

Wednesday night’s win was sweet revenge for Dinesh as he had lost to Benchabla in the first round of the Beijing Olympics.

“The win is a great morale-booster for me. My next bout is a tough one but hopefully I will be able to come good,” Dinesh said after his bout.

India has a four-member presence in the event and bantamweight pugilist Akhil Kumar has already advanced to the semifinals after beating Germany’s Marcel Schneider 15-6.

The World Cup is a prize-money tournament, which offers $10,000 for the gold medallist and $5,000 and $2,500 for the silver and bronze winners respectively. — PTI