Date:14/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/14/stories/2008121460271700.htm

Sport

Indian boxers lose

Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI: The Indian boxers — Akhil Kumar, Jitender Kumar, A.L. Lakra and Dinesh Kumar — fell to superior rivals and settled for bronze medals in the International Boxing Association (AIBA) World Cup in Moscow on Saturday.

Dinesh was outpunched by Russian Artur Beterbiev in an 81-kg semifinal bout and it brought an end to India’s quest for a better medal. Dinesh retired after trailing 1-10 in the second round. In the first round, Beterbiev, the 2006 European champion and a silver medallist in World championship last year, was leading 2-1.

In a nerve-wracking 54-kg bout, a luckless Akhil lost to Yankiel Leon Alarcon on the individual scores of the five judges after the boxers were tied 4-4 at the end of four rounds.

After a scoreless first round, the two boxers gained two points each in the second. The 26-year-old Cuban, a silver medallist in the Beijing Olympics, went ahead in the third round by garnering two more points against Akhil’s one. However, the 27-year-old Indian fought back in the final round though it was not enough to take him to the title clash.

“I gave my best and I am very happy with my performance. I cannot do more than giving my best. But the only sorrow is gold still eluded me,” Akhil told The Hindu over phone.

Lakra also gave a tough fight to his 22-year old opponent Idel Torriente. After a barren first round, Lakra fell back in the second as he gave away four points while managing just one. He revived his hopes in the third round by narrowing the margin to 3-5. But, Torriente, the 2007 Pan-American champion, was too good for the Indian and won the 57-kg bout 6-3.

Earlier, Jitender lost the 51-kg bout against Andris Laffita Hernandez 6-14. After an impressive start, the young Indian was thoroughly outplayed by the opponent. Jitender led 4-2 after the first round, but lost steam after that. Hernandez, also a silver medallist in Beijing, showed maturity to keep his best for the following rounds. The Cuban pugilist gathered three, four and five points in the second, third and fourth rounds, in that order.