NEW DELHI, Oct 7 India's Akhil Kumar outpointed Qadir Khan of Pakistan in the bantamweight preliminary round of the Commonwealth Games boxing competition on Thursday.
The Indian will next face England's Iain Weaver, who proved too strong for Vusie Simelane of Swaziland, the referee stopping their contest after the second round.
Qadir's coach Ejaz Mehmood said the experience made all the difference.
“Akhil was experienced and my guy is a new boxer. It's just his second international outing and he'll improve,” said Ejaz.
Also advancing into the bantamweight division were Australian Ibrahim Balla, Louis Julie of Mauritius and Tanzania's Revocatus Shomari.
Pakistan's Muhammad Waseem moved into the light flyweight quarter-finals when he outpointed Sri Lankan Chaminda Tennakoon.
Australian Andrew Moloney also made it the last-eight as he proved too good for Paul Kava of Solomon Islands, the referee stopping the contest in the opening round.
“I'm feeling good,” said Waseem. “I was attacking, but when my opponent charged me, I went on the defensive.”
Also moving into the quarter-finals were Namibia's Jafet Uutoni, Mauritius' Jason Lavigilante, Duke Micah of Ghana, Northern Ireland's Paddy Barnes, Malaysian Muhammad Fuad and Indian Amandeep Singh.
Jermaine Asare of Wales advanced into the light-heavyweight pre-quarter-finals, outpointing Tarieta Ruata of Kiribati.
Lennon Bannis of Dominica, Ahmed Saraku of Ghana and Samoa's Filimaua Hala also entered the light-heavyweight pre-quarterfinals.
Results (preliminary round)
Light-flyweight 49kg
Jafet Uutoni (NAM) bt Lui Magaiva (PNG) - points; Jason Lavigilante (MRI) bt Christopher Katanga (ZAM) - points; Muhammad Waseem (PAK) bt Chaminda Tennakoon (SRI) - points; Duke Micah (GHA) bt Lebogang Pilane (RSA) - points; Andrew Moloney (AUS) bt Paul Kava (SOL) - referee stopped fight; Paddy Barnes (NIR) bt Lain Butcher (SCO) - points; Muhammad Fuad (MAS) bt Bathusi Mogajane (BOT) - points; Amandeep Singh (IND) bt Haziza Matusi (RWA) - points.
Bantamweight 56kg
Ibrahim Balla (AUS) bt Thabiso Nketu (LES) - points; Akhil Kumar (IND) bt Qadir Khan (PAK) - points; Iain Weaver (ENG) bt Vusie Simelane (SWZ) - referee stopped fight; Louis Julie (MRI) bt Taiwo Agbaje (NGR) - points; Revocatus Shomari (TNA) bt Papish Baloyi (RSA) - points.
Light heavyweight 81kg
Ahmed Saraku (GHA) bt Yakita Aska (ANT) - points; Jermaine Asare (WAL) bt Tarieta Ruata (KIR) - points; Filimaua Hala (SAM) bt Andrew Fermin (TRI) - disqualified; Lennon Bannis (DMA) bt Mathew Titoa (COK) - points.—AFP
