Vikash Malik (60kg) notched up India’s first win at the ongoing World Boxing Championships as he beat Kyrgyzstan’s Meder Mamakeev to enter the second round of the mega-event here on Tuesday.
The reigning national champion, the lone Indian in action today, prevailed over Mamakeev 3-0 to enter the second round where he will be up against Poland’s Dawid Michelus on October 20. Michelus got a first-round bye.
Vikash, who was a pre-quarterfinalist at the Asian Championships in June, was trailing in the opening round when the individual scores handed out under the new 10-point system, which evaluates the boxer not just on the number of punches connected but also his overall ring-craft.
However, he roared back in the next two rounds, impressing the judges, who were unanimous in picking him the winner.
Asian Championships silver-medallist Mandeep Jangra (69kg) will make his World Championships debut when he takes on Tanazania’s Selemani Kidunda on Wednesday.
The 20-year-old Mandeep, who got a gold medal in his debut senior international event this year, is being seen as a brilliant prospect by the coaches.
Due to the provisional suspension imposed on the Indian Boxing Federation, the country’s pugilists are competing under the International Boxing Association’s (AIBA) flag.
The Indians have won a total of two medals in the mega-event, which will feature more than 450 boxers from over 100 countries this year.
Vijender Singh (75kg), who will be making his fourth World Championship appearance, opened India’s medal account in 2009 with a bronze. Later, Vikas Krishan also won a bronze medal in the 2011 edition.
