Jitender, Diwakar, Manoj punched out of Asian Games

Doha, Dec 7 (UNI) It was a disastrous day for the Indian pugilists as three of them got sound thrashing before referee intervened to stop the bouts in the boxing competition of the 15th Asian Games here today.

After the defeats of Jitender Kumar (Fly 51kg), Diwakar Prasad (Feather 57kg) and Manoj Kumar (lighter Welter 64 kg) Sanjay Kolte Kisan remains the lone Indian boxer in the fray and he takes on Zou Shiming in the quarterfinals of the 48kg category tomorrow.

It was the day the Indian boxers here will like to forget in hurry. Jitender Kumar and Diwakar Prasad had come here with some good reputation of being spirited fighters but they put up a poor fight today.

Jitender started on a poor note against Violito Payla and before the Indian could have the feel of the ring, his rival was up 5-1 and then Jitender, in his haste to catch up, went for some wild punches which missed target and he lowered his defence as Payla landed furious punches to win the round 11-2.

Payla was in punishing mood and he blasted apart Jitender's defence in the second round to win it 7-1 and in the third Payla showed no mercy on the Indian (9-4) but the referee Al-Bikri Ali of Qatar stopped the contest Jitender was outscored by his rival.

The next two bouts involving Indians were also RSCOS -- Referee Stop Contest Outscored.

In the 57kg, Diwakar Prasad was taken to task by Uzbek boxer Bahodirjon Sultonov, who won the three rounds 9-1, 6-2, 9-1 when Thai referee Artit Somchai stepped in to stop the contest and saved the Indian from more thrashing.

It was a totally one-sided contest with Indian running for safety with all his flank uncovered and Sultonov pouncing on him like a hungry tiger.

The Uzbek used punches with deadly effect which left the Indian rattled.

Manoj Kumar also met the same fate. He was battered by Kazakhstan's Serik Sapiyev 8-5, 14-4, 8-1 when Kyrghistan's Alymiculov stopped the fight.

Manoj looked putting up a decent fight as he fought well in the first round but once the Kazakh boxer started pounding him, the Indian scurried for cover which the referee provided after third round.

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