Gurcharan beats Korean in a close bout

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Sydney: Gurcharan Singh crossed an important bogey, that of a Korean opponent in the first round to move into the second round of 81-kg category of the Olympic boxing competition.

The 23-year-old Gurcharan, who was recently honoured with the Arjuna Award, defeated Choi Ki Soo, who was not only seven years older but alsoalmost five inches shorter in height on a points decision 11-9.

It was a close fight in which the Indian should have had a slight advantage because of his reach, but the nimble Korean kept collecting points with quick attack and withdraw tactics and did not allow Gurcharan to use it fully.

The 30-year-old Choi, who won an Asian silver medal in 1992 Asians was a surprise qualifier for the Oympics. The two traded punch for punch for most part of the bout till Gurcharan ran up a small points advantage, which he held on in the fourth round.

In the first round Gurcharan actually trailed 0-1 on points, but then with a couple of good straights caught up in the next as the two were tired at 3-3.This was the stage when Gurcharan decided to attack a little more positively and it showed as he built up a 8-6 advantage.

In the final round with the Korean going all out, Guracharan while managing to keep him at length also kept the score a level and came through 11-9. According to A K Mattoo, chef de mission and also president of the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation, "Gurcharan is a talented boy and is a tremendous hope for Indian boxing along with Jitender as well as Dingko Singh. With a little luck he could go to the quarter-finals and who knows even further."

Gurcharan, who like Jitender Kumar was trained by the late Hawa Singh who died only in August this year, will be next up against South African Danie Venter, who outpointed Syrian Ihab Al Yousef 12-9 in another bout.

The South African is a medallist in the African championships, but the Indian who finished fifth at the World Championships in 1999 would start as the favourite. Should the Asian Games bronze medallist Gurcharan get past Venter, he could be up against Ghanian Charles Adamu, who stunned the Commonwealth champion, Courtney Fry of Britain in the first round. Adamu outclassed Fry 16-3 on points.

India Abroad News Service