Limassol, Cyprus: Indian boxers scaled new frontiers at Limassol, Cyprus in the Invitation FXTM International Limassol Boxing Cup as they powered through to claim the top rank and bag the 2013 Limassol Boxing Cup on Sunday (19 May 2013).
The Indian pugilists displayed exceptional grit and talent throughout the tournament and a stunning performance particularity in the finals of the event with a total tally of 10 medals (4 gold medals, 3 silver medals and 3 bronze medals) ensured a first place in the overall standings for the Indian contingent. It was another milestone achieved in the growing reputation of Indian boxers as this is the very first time that Indian boxers have won a tournament on the European circuit.
Reigning National Champion and silver medallist at the 2011 Tammer Cup in Finland Madan Lal (52kg) was the first Indian to take to the ring. Up against Ayigah Dodsi from Belgium, Lal started strongly to register an early lead. His sharp combinations of straight punches and hooks helped him gain a 5 point lead at the end of the 1st round. In the second, the Belgium boxer tried to make a comeback but the 21 year old Indian was up to the challenge. Madan quickly changed his strategy and relied more on counter attacks in the final two rounds and went on to bag the fly weight title with consummate ease in the end.
2009 Youth Olympic Games gold medallist V Durga Rao (56kg) had to dig deep against German boxer Dieter Dier. After three round of intense action the scores were knotted at 12 all. In the end though, it was Rao who emerged victorious on individual judge’s score to bag his very first international medal on the senior tour. Contrary to Rao’s bout his compatriot Mandeep Jangra (69kg), a gold medallist at the 2012 senior nationals, was in exceptional touch as he devoured Victor Vega Blanco of Spain in a completely one sided affair to bag the welter weight title. Super heavy weight boxer Praveen Kumar (+91kg) won the fourth gold for India after overhauling Beguerni Hamza from Algeria in what was a well contested bout.
Olympian and 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Manoj Kumar (64kg) had to settle for a silver medal finish after losing out to Abdelkader Chadi of Algeria. Both the boxers started cautiously, waiting for the other to make the move; in the end it was the Algerian boxer who dominated the first round. Manoj came back strongly to win the second, but Chadi’s precise attacks helped him maintain the overall advantage in final round. Ultimately Manoj lost the bout by 3 points.
Olympian Dinesh Kumar (91kg) also suffered a similar fate. Kumar, who had beaten Olympian and WSB boxer Chouaib Bouloudinat from Algeria in the semis, came up short against the power hitting of Fotios Arapoglous from Greece. He too will have to be content with a silver medal performance from the tournament. Participating in his maiden international event Sukhdeep Singh (75kg) gave a good account of his boxing skills and showed immense potential in the tournament. In the finals though, the young 20 year old was unable to get past the Kyriakos Spanos of Cyprus.
Chief national coach Mr GS Sandhu, who is travelling with the team, was extremely pleased with the performance of his lads. He said, “This is a first for us, we have never won a tournament in the European circuit before. It is a big achievement for Indian boxers and I am very happy with the way most of our boys fought. Even the first timers did a tremendous job to be counted among the medal winner at the event; these are promising signs for India boxing and this performance will do wonders for their confidence”.
Earlier in the tournament Anil Kumar (60kg), Jagroop Singh (81kg) and L Devendro Singh (49kg) reached the semi-finals of their respective weight division. Unfortunately the three lost out in the round of four and had to be content with a bronze medal finish.