Eight-time National champion Dilbag Singh of Railways gave a great display of punching power and stamina as he defeated a hard fighting Amit Karki of Services in the welterweight (69 kg) category of the Sahara 59th senior National boxing championship for men at the Lal Bahadur indoor stadium here on Thursday.
Due to heavy rain the organisers had to shift the bouts from the outdoor venue at the main stadium to an indoor arena by putting up two rings — one at the boxing hall and another in the indoor stadium — both of which are within the Lal Bahadur stadium complex , and the tournament went ahead as per schedule.
With both boxers evenly matched it was a touch-and-go affair. Karki, who showed tremendous fighting spirit, unleashed a flurry of power-packed punches to chalk up a slender 7-6 lead at the end of the first round.
But Dilbag came roaring back in the second. He decided to stay out of his rival’s reach but also landed lefts and rights to his rival’s head and face. By the end of the second round he was leading 14-11. The third round was again hard fought. In the end Dilbag managed to squeeze through with a 20-18 verdict. “I have prepared hard and I am determined to take my ninth National title,” he said.
In the light flyweight class, one of the top contenders Amandeep of Railways ended a brave fight by unheralded Lal Chand of West Bengal. The latter kept up a steady fight against his more reputed rival and at the end Amandeep who had to pull out his best, managed to emerge a 10-4 winner.
In the same weight category Nanao Singh of Services thrashed Sumit of Goa 17-5.
The results: Light fly (46-49 kg): K. Sagar (AP) bt Raju (UP) 35-21; Vinod Kumar (SPSB) bt Bhojram (UP) 20-18; T. Nanao Singh (SSCB) bt Sumit (Goa) 17-5; Amarjeet Singh (Man) bt Vipin Kumar (Raj) 14-6; Naveen Kumar (Har) bt Tara Chand (MP) 18-14; Amandeep (RSPB) bt Lal Chand Dhaw (WB) 10-4.
Fly (52 kg): Labir Singh (AIP) bt Sandeep (Aru) 13-5; Madan Lal (SSCB) bt Lamkupar T. (Meg) RSC second round; Bhaskar (SPSB) bt Sunil (Chd) 22-10; Mahimai Nathar (Kar) bt Naveen Kumar (Chd) 16-5; Sandep (Tri) bt Ranjeet (Jhr) 23-8; V. Balakrishna (AP) bt Suraj Singh (Utk) 19-5; G. Bidhuri (Del) bt Anuj Pradhan (Sik) 19-5.
Bantam (56 kg): Kulwinder Singh (Pun) bt Kamal Singh (Tri) 10-6; Chote Lal Yadav (SSCB) bt Surender (Chd) 26-12; S. Santosh (Man) bt Prahlad (Jhr) 11-1; Ajay Kumar (Har) bt Wanbudien (Meg) 16-7; V.D. Rao (Kar) bt Pranit Kumbhar (Mah) 14-12; Yudhveer (MP) bt Anubhav (Utk) 15-5.
Light (60 kg): Anil Kumar (Bih) bt Rahul (Utk) 15-11; Mahesh Singh (UP) bt Manikanta Ashok (AP) 15-5; Surinder Singh (SSCB) bt Deva Naik (Goa) 22-16. Vikas (J & K) bt Pradeep (AIP) 17-12.
Light welter (64 kg): Aditya Mane (Mah) bt Mandepally Ganesh (AP) 21-9; Kulvinder (Ker) bt Naresh Kumar (Chd) 14-10; N. Singh (Pun) bt L. Bishorjit (Man) 14-3; Afzal Ahmed (Cht) bt Ritesh (MP) 11-10; Manish Pawar (Del) bt Pramod (Tri) 6.
Welter (69 kg): Dilbag Singh (RSPB) bt Amit Karki (SSCB) 20-18; K. Surender (AP) bt Vijender (Raj) 22-12.
