7 medals assured for India in Doha boxing tournament

NEW DELHI: Commonwealth Games silver-medallist L Devendro Singh (49kg) advanced to the final, while six others entered the semis as Indian boxers shone bright in the Doha International Tournament, a test event for the World Championships scheduled there later this year.

Devendro, who got a bye in the opening round, entered the final after his Qatar rival Al Rafeek Yahea was declared medically unfit today.

Meanwhile, former Asian gold-medallist Shiva Thapa (56kg), Gaurav Bhiduri (52kg), Mandeep Jangra (69kg), Manish Kumar (60kg), Manoj Kumar (64kg) and Vikas Krishan (75kg) made the semifinals.

Shiva out-punched Jordan's Al Wadi Mohammad 3-0, while Manish got the better of Tunisia's Elmejri Ahmad 2-1.

Mandeep, also a Commonwealth Games silver-medallist, reached the last four after beating Afghanistan's Allahdad Rahemi.

Manoj beat Morocco's Younes Baati to book his semifinal berth. Vikas and Gaurav, on the other hand, got byes into the semifinal stage in a relatively small draw given the low participation in the event.

The tournament features a total of 12 countries and is a buildup for the October World championships, which is also an Olympic qualifying event.