HYDERABAD (India), Oct 25: Commonwealth light flyweight champion Mohammed Ali Qamar ousted Kenyan Olympian Bilali Sulaman Wanjau in the preliminaries Saturday as India opened the Afro-Asian Games boxing competition with two popular wins.

Qamar had a narrow 14-13 points decision against Wanjau to advance to the semifinals.

Commonwealth silver medalist Ramanand of India, backed by a noisy parochial crowd, had a comfortable win over South Africa’s Bongani Mwelase in the lightweight division.

In an upset, Asian Games champion Dilshod Mahmudov of Uzbekistan lost on points to Ahmed Sadiq of Nigeria. Dilshod was on defensive right from the beginning of the bout.

In another lightweight bout, Getaneh Esayas of Ethiopia retired in the first round, unable to face the onslaught of the Baik Jong-sub of South Korea, who took silver at the last Asian Games.

In light flyweight contests, Harry Tanamor of Philippines beat Jeremia Joseph of Namibia and Serik Sikymbayev of Kazakhstan def. Katonge Jully of Uganda.

In middleweight preliminaries, Nabil Kassel of Algeria def. Yerbol of Kazakhstan and Haydarov Utkirbek of Uzbekistan def. Shisia Daniel of Kenya.—APP/AP