Indian junior boxers made a resounding start to their campaign at the ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships at Shymkent in Kazakhstan with Prayag Chauhan and Aditya Maan making it to the medal rounds in 66kg class on the opening day today.
Out of the five junior Indian pugilists who took to the rings on day one, four advanced to the next stage in their respective weight categories.
In the light welter weight division, Pradeep also assured himself of a bronze medal after securing a direct entry into the semi-finals by virtue of a bye.
Reigning sub-junior national champion Aditya Maan (66kg) and silver medal winner at the Sub-Junior Nationals Prayag Chauhan defeated their respective opponents in splendid fashion to march into the semi-finals of the championship. The win now assures both the boxers of at least a bronze medal finish from the tournament.
While Chauhan overpowered Nozimov Mumin of Tajikistan, Mann defeated Tsenquun Ganbold of Mongolia.
In the semi-finals Prayag is slated to take on Ernis Uulu Ruslan of Kyrgyzstan tomorrow and Aditya will square off against Merjanov Eldar of Uzbekistan on Thursday.
In other results, bronze medal winner at last year's sub-junior nationals Pradeep (63kg) assured himself of a bronze medal after securing a direct entry into semi-finals of the light welter weight division by virtue of a bye.
The 16-year-old boxer will now clash against the winner of the quarter-final bout between Stolbovskiy Vladislav of Kazakhstan and Shodiljonov Sirojiddin Uzbekistan for a place in the finals.
In the bantam weight division, Thounaojam Bickychand also powered through to the round of eight with a unanimous decision victory by points over Duishobai Uulu of Kyrgyzstan. In the quarter-finals tomorrow, he takes on Kholdarov Ikboijan of Uzbekistan.
