Super heavyweight boxer Manjeet Singh continued his winning streak at the third China Open Boxing Tournament here to enter the final in his weight-category.
The 2012 senior nationals bronze medallist powered through to the final round Thursday with another scintillating performance in the semifinals of the plus-91 kg event.
Manjeet, 21, defeated Yermek Ussenove of Kazakhstan in the quarters to make his place in the penultimate round. In the semis, the two-time youth nationals bronze medallist was up against local lad Wang Zhi Bao.
The burly youngster, participating in his first international tournament, began slowly but soon gathered momentum penetrating Wang's guard with some power-packed punches. The Chinese boxer put up a good show in the second round but the Indian forged ahead with a flurry of jabs and hooks.
He went on to bag his spot in the final with a win on split-decision. Singh will stake claim to the yellow metal against Akepeer Yusuf from China (B team).
But there was disappointment for other three Indian boxers in the semifinals.
Also Read
Silver medal-winner in the inaugural edition of this tournament, Sunil Kumar (52 kg) gave his opponent Chang Young of China a run for his money. On more than one occasion, Sunil, with his swift combinations, seemed to be taking the game away from Chang but ultimately the 23-year-old lost out to the Chinese boxer in what was an enthralling contest. He will return from the tournament with a bronze medal.
Likewise, 19-year-old Ajay Kumar (56 kg) will have to be content with a bronze after losing to You Lunhai, also of China. But the rookie boxer, making his international debut, displayed immense skill and technique. Although he ended up losing in the last-four clash, he made Lunhai work hard for a place in the finals.
Middle-weight boxer Jaideep also went down to another Chinese boxer Chao Gejiletu in his semifinal bout and had to make do with a bronze medal.