Former World youth championships gold medallist Sachin Siwach gave a better account of himself as he outsmarted Argentine Ramon Nicanor Quiroga 5-0 in the 52kg first round of the India Open international boxing here at the Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Indoor Stadium on Monday.
Competing in one of the toughest weight classes — which has strong Indian boxers like Asian Games gold medallist Amit Panghal, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Gaurav Solanki and National champion P.L. Prasad — 20-year-old Siwach showed improvement in his boxing since the time he had managed a bronze medal in the National championships seven months ago.
Swift movement
With India’s chief performance director Santiago Nieva and his elder brother Fabricio Nieva, an Olympian and a World Cup medallist who is now Argentina’s head coach, seconding at opposite corners, the taller Siwach used his swift movement and longer reach to stay safe from the powerful punches of Quiroga. He used his accurate left jabs and combination of two punches to score points.
The stylish Siwach, displaying his open guard and evasive technique, recorded a comprehensive win to set up a second round fight with former World championships bronze medallist Rogen Ladon of Philippines.
“I did not have much problem because of my height and long reach. I have worked on my speed and movement and it is helping me,” said Siwach.
Featuring in her first competition since switching from 54kg to 57kg, Asian championships bronze medallist Manisha Maun upset former Worlds bronze medal winner Nesthy Petecio of Philippines 4-1.
Even tough she struggled to get into rhythm in the higher weight, the gritty Manisha managed to land a few well-directed blows in the exchange of punches to emerge as the winner.
The results:Men: 52kg: Chakapong Chanpirom (Tha) bt Tenzin Drugyel (Bhu) 5-0; Sachin Siwach bt Ramon Nicanor Quiroga (Arg) 5-0; 56kg: Mario Fernan Dez (Phi) bt Mario Cuello (Arg) 5-0; Chatchai Butdee (Tha) bt Surendra Rai (Nep) 5-0. Women:51kg: Anamika bt Claudine Veloso (Phi) RSC-R3; Jyoti Gulia bt Irish Magno (Phi) 4-1; 57kg: Sonia Lather bt Chandrakala Thapa (Nep) 5-0; Manisha Maun bt Nesthy Petecio (Phi) 4-1; 60kg: Preeti Beniwal bt Sangita Sundar (Nep) 5-0; Shashi Chopra bt Tandin Choden (Bhu) 5-0 .
