Mixed luck for Indian boxers, Vijender wins, Dinesh lose

Beijing, Aug 9 (UNI) India had a mixed day in boxing with Vijender Singh living up to the hype build around him as he outpunched Gambia's Jack Badou 13-2 to move into the second round of the 75 kg (middle weight), while in the 81 kg category Dinesh Kumar suffered a humiliating defeat when referee stopped the contest to save the Indian from further thrashing at the hands of Algeria's Abdelhafid in the Olympic Boxing competition here today.

The emphatic win enabled Vijender, the handsome Bhiwani (Haryana) boxer erase the memories of a first round defeat in the 2004 Athens Olympics.

But it was a nightmarish debut for Vijender's compatriot Dinesh Kumar who will be haunted by the beating he received at the hands of Abdelhafid for a long time to come.

The 75 kg bout turned out to be a mismatch and even Vijender later admitted that he never expected it to be so easy.

''It was interesting but the opponent was not that tough,'' he told mediapersons after his win.

The Indian took his time to understand his rival's plan and then landed the first punch after 115 seconds to go up 1-0 in the first round.

It was an aggressive Vijender who fisted his way into the second round as the Gambian scurried for cover. The Indian punched him with fierce right hooks and upper cuts to take five points while conceding just one.

Having established a 6-1 lead, there was no stopping the Indian as he unleashed flurry of hooks on the hapless Gambian. Vijender hit him all over and but could manage only three points and again conceded one in the third. To take his tally to 9-2.

The last round was easy for the Indian who collected four more points to win the bout 13-2.

''I enjoyed the bout. To win the first round is a good feeling,'' he said adding he was expecting better opposition and challenge from his rival with whom he was boxing for the first time.

Vijender's next bout rival is Thailand's Angkhan Chomphuphuang to whom Indian had lost in the President Cup held in Chinese Taipei in April.

''I am looking forward to the bout. It is going to be a revenge fight,'' he said when asked about his next round rival.

''I beat a the Thai boxer who had won in the medal in Athens Olympic so he was replaced by Angkhan,'' he informed.

The bout in the 81 kg event was a total mismatch with Abdelhafid landing punches on Dinesh Kumar at will. The Indian neither had the tactics nor the stamina to stand up to his rival and simply turned out to be a pnching back.

Abdelhafid raced to a 9-3 lead in the first round and added six more points in the second to make it 15-3 as the Indian ran all over the ring trying to avoid getting punished.

The Algerian was in a ruthless mood and realising that his rival is at his mercy, he increased his attacks and Dinesh's body just wilted under the hits which came from all over.

With the score reading 23-3 and still 15 seconds to go in the third round referee intervened much to the relief of Dinesh and accompanying officials stopped the contest.

UNI HSB AB BD1940