Boxer Kumar assured of medal in Belgrade

India boxer Akash Kumar

Hardened by difficult circumstances in his personal life, young boxer Akash Kumar (54kg) secured India's first medal at the ongoing AIBA Men's World Championships here on Tuesday by advancing to the semi-finals with a superb win over former Olympic silver-medallist Yoel Finol Rivas of Venezuela.

However, Narender Berwal (+92kg) bowed out of the competition, out-maneuvered by Azerbaijan's Mahammad Abdullayev. Berwal lost 0-5. But before that, the Kumar, 21, prevailed 5-0 with a fabulous performance which was a perfect mix of powerful punching and great showmanship. The fearless youngster scored on counter-attacks with a non-existent guard and taunted his opponent, all this while staying out of his range with terrific pace and footwork. Even a cut above his right eye could not slow him down or force him to raise his guard.

"My strategy was to attack from word go, I took the first round with that and in the second, I had to protect my cut as well, while going forward, which I managed to do," Akash said after the triumph. A product of the Army Sports Institute in Pune, the Services boxer lost his mother to a lung infection in September and competed in the national championships unaware of the tragedy.

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