South Asian Games – Day1 Report
India did perfect opening day while Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka all won bouts in the South Asian Games
The boxing tournament of the South Asian Games has began in Shillong, India where the quarter-finals were held in four weight classes for the men boxers. The host nation won all of their three quarter-final contests in the front of the home crowd while the developing nations of the region as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka all won at least one quarter-final contest in the opening day.
Men’s Light Flyweight class (49 kg):
Pakistan’s Mohibullah Bacha took part in the last big international events and his experiences survived his chances in the South Asian Games where he needed to do his very best against Bangladesh’s Hossain Mohamed Sojib. The top favourite of the lowest weight class India’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist Devendro Laishram Singh was too smart for Bhutan’s Tashi Wangdi and advanced to the semi-finals. The third winner in the weight class was Sri Lanka’s Thiwanka Ranasinghe who eliminated Nepal’s National Selection Tournament winner Deuba Tej Bahadur.
Men’s Bantamweight class (56 kg):
Pakistan’s National Champion Niamat Ullah had some warm moments in the opening round against Sri Lanka’s Ruwan Thilina Weerakoddi but in the second round he decided their contest with great punches. Bangladesh’s Mohamed Omiduzzaman is a veteran boxer who was not enough speed but launched his attacks in the right moments against Bhutan’s Nima Dorji which delivered for him a place in the last four. Nepal’s best boxer Dinesh Shrestha was unlucky in the drawing ceremony as he had to meet with India’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Shiva Thapa and suffered a loss to the host nation’s star.
Men’s Light Welterweight class (64 kg):
Bhutan’s Tshering Wangchuk won his first international contest in the quarter-final of the South Asian Games where he was too strong for Pakistan’s Gul Zaib who competed in the last edition of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships in Bangkok. Nepal’s experienced Deepak Shrestha also began his road to the finals in Shillong and his opening job was ticked following his clear victory over Afghanistan’s Ahmad Wais Ahmadi. Sri Lanka’s Commonwealth Games competitor Dinidu Saparamadu dominated all of the rounds against Bangladesh’s Shek Mohamed Aslam and also advanced to the semi-finals.
Men’s Middleweight class (75 kg):
India’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist Vikas Krishan Yadav did not spend a long time in the ring as he knocked down Bangladesh’s Ahmed Jewel Jony in the opening round. Bhutan’s Tashi Norbu was quarter-finalist in the last edition of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships in Bangkok and could show his skills in the Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships. Since then he moved down to the Middleweight class (75 kg) and opened his participation at the South Asian Games with a clear triumph over Nepal’s Dipesh Lama winning all of the rounds as the scoring of 10:9. Pakistan’s two-time National Champion Ahmad Tanveer also secured his place in the last four as he was able to beat Ahmad Tanveer Sri Lanka’s veteran Divarathna Mailawa.