Indian challenge in King's Cup
boxing ends

Sandy Brown in Bangkok

India's challenge in the 24th King's Cup amateur boxing tournament came to an abrupt end when Dilbagh Singh and Harpal Singh went down tamely to superior opponents in the semi-finals at the indoor MCC Hall, The Mall, Ngarmwongwan, in Bangkok, on Friday.

While Dilbagh, who came through two tough rounds, encountered a tough customer in Ruslan Khairov of Azerbaijan, whose skills in the first two rounds were good enough to predict the outcome of the bout, the lanky Harpal was content to prod and jab against a more compact Uzbekistani opponent in Zokirov Lazizbek throughout the four rounds without really showing any earnestness to go all out for a win in the Super-heavy division. In fact, he was never required to unleash a single punch to assure himself of a bronze medal as he was seeded directly into the semi-finals.

The Thais began the day with a severe jolt, when Juahto Khongchana of The Philippines showed he was not overawed by the Thai juggernaut or the overwhelming support their boxers received, as he punched his way past Yota Saenan with alacrity and finesse for a 16-4 verdict in the light-flyweight division to assure himself of a silver if not gold, as he takes on Suban Phannoan of the host country in the final.

Thereafter, the Thais were on a roll, bludgeoning their way past boxers from Russia, Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan before Russian Matvel Korobov came up with a cameo performance that once again threw a spanner in the works of the Thais, who were hoping of a maximum of eight golds as they had at least three boxers in the lighter weight categories making it to the semi-finals.

However, their final target now is anywhere between four and six golds, if not more, as they have a few powerful Russians and Uzbekis to deal with.

Coming back to the Indian bouts, Dilbagh Singh, who got a pounding from Thai Decharpol Suwarnnalerd in his quarter-final bout before scraping through, had not fully recovered even after a day's break. He was a bit slow and his punches lacked bite. Nonetheless, the technically superior Azerbaijan boxer, who was witness to Dilbagh's quarter-final performance, preferred a cautious approach in the first round but made sure he scored over the Indian with short bursts of jabs and combinations that met their target.

In the second and third, he was head and shoulders above the Indian, who preferred to overuse his crouch and rationed his punches in the fear of throwing open his guard and inviting a flurry of punches that could prove fatal for him.

By the start of the fourth, Ruslan, who pranced and shuffled fluently, was streets ahead on points and never really needed to work up a sweat in the final round to ensure himself a place in the final. Dilbag decided he needed to have some points in the kitty a little too late and though he turned aggressive there was little he could do to wipe out the deficit. The final verdict, a comfortable 14-2 victory in favour of Ruslan.

Harpal looked like a puppy who preferred to play around rather than bark and bite with the ferocity that would have given his Uzbekistan opponent food for thought. The lanky Indian, who possessed the advantage of a longer reach, often used the straight left, but, sadly, never seemed to know what it is to use a right cross. He had enough power in his mits but not enough skill and thinking power to outwit and out box his opponent, who preferred to zoom in and out with quick bursts to avoid getting hit. All Harpal could manage was two points before he went down 2-9.

India's neighbours Pakistan, who had four semi-finalists, found themselves assured of two silvers apart from two bronze when their lanky boxers, Muzafar Izbal, in the super-heavy, and Shoukat Ali, in the heavy categories, stormed into the final with convincing wins.

Results: semi-finals:
Light-flyweight (48kgs): Juahto Khongchana (The Phillipines) beat Yota Saenan (Thailand D)16-4; Suban Phannoan (Thailand) w/o Nopphadol Khongchana (Thailand C).

Flyweight (51 kgs): Somjit Jongjorhor (Thailand A) w/o Komjit Sudwisai (Thailand D); Worapoj Petchikhum (Thailand B) beat Halikov (Russia) 11-4.

Bantamweight (54 kgs); Chotiphat Wongprated (Thailand A) w/o Thongdang Klonjan (Thailand C); Khidirov Bekzod (Uzbekistan) beat Mai Kangle (China) 7-5.

Featherweight (57 kgs): Suttisak Samakasmarn (Thailand A) beat Haider Ali (Pakistan) 7-3; Terdsak Jandang (Thailand B) w/o Parinya Changnguen (Thailand D).

Lightweight (60 kgs): Somchai Nakbalee (Thailand A) beat Mahmudov Dishod (Uzbekistan) 12-8; Farhad Ajalov (Azarbeijan) beat Rung Mousom (Thailand D) 14-8.

Lightwelterweight (63.5 kgs): Manas Boonjamnong (Thailand B) beat Zubox (Russia) 12-3; Phongsak Reanthounthong (Thailand A) beat Asohar Ali Shah (Pakistan) 13-9.

Welterweight (67 kgs); Ruslan Khairov (Azarbeijan) beat Dilbag Singh (India) 14-2; Manon Boonjamnong (Thailand B) beat Gueorful (Russia) 11-9.

Light-middleweight (71kgs): Nirun Makpetch (Thailand C) beat Tan Chun Liu (ChineseTaipei) RSC in 4th round; Matvel Korobov (Russia) beat (Thailand A) 11-2.

Middleweight (75 kgs): Tchemych Denis (Russia) beat Adura Olalehin (Nigeria) 13-2; Hadeng Bateer (China) beat Amiri Homyon (Iran) RSC in 3rd round.

Light-heavyweight (81kgs): Azimov Nozimjan (Uzbekistan) beat Abdulla Alotaibi (Kuwait) RSC in 2nd round; Na Ricu (China) beat David Guerian (Russia) 19-14.

Heavyweight (91 kgs): Houseini Rohollah (Iran) beat Michael Niness (Australia) 17-6; Shoukat Ali (Pakistan) beat Valeri Gouriguine (Russia) 20-11.

Superheavyweight (over 91 kgs): Muzafar Isbal beat Abdulla Aldallaf (Kuwait) RSC in 2nd round; Zokirov Lazizbek (Uzbekistan) beat Harpal Singh (India) 9-2.

Earlier reports:
Indian pugilists get a beating
Dilbagh Singh packs a punch