CWG 2018: Five India boxers storm into semifinals

Gold Coast, April 10: India continued to showcase their might in the ring as five boxers entered the semifinals of various weight categories at the Commonwealth Games on Tuesday (April 10).

Indian boxers started the day on a bright note as Amit Phangal and Naman Tanwar stormed into the semifinals of their respective weight categories. Phangal won his bout in the 49kg category while Tanwar emerged successful from his 91kg fight. Tanwar secured a unanimous verdict of 5-0 against Frank Masoe of Samoa while Phangal got the better of Scotland's Aqueel Ahmed.

Let's go for Gold #PunchMeinHaiDum #GC2018 #ShareTheDream https://t.co/6yoFElwdFC

— Boxing Federation (@BFI_official) April 10, 2018

Later, Mohammed Hussamuddin progressed to the semis in 56kg division with a unanimous verdict against Zambia's Everisto Mulenga. In the 69kg bout, Manoj Kumar made to sweat by Australia's Terry Nickolas before securing a 4-1 verdict in favour him and along with it a last four berth.

Satish Kumar (+91kg) too got a split verdict (4-1) but in the end there was no real fight he faced from Trinidad and Tobago's Nigel Paul en route semifinals.

MEDAL TALLY

Both Tanwar and Phangal are now assured of at least a bronze medal each even if they do not progress from the semis.

Naman Tanwar ensures India 🇮🇳, it's third medal in #boxing.
A clinical approach by the youngster, saw a 5⃣:0⃣ result against his opponent in the 91 kg Category of the #GC2018boxing #PunchMeinHaiDum #ShareTheDream #CWG2018India pic.twitter.com/baYjWJzGcq

— Boxing Federation (@BFI_official) April 10, 2018

There was a huge pressure on Tanwar ahead of Commonwealth Games as he upstaged favourite Sumit Sangwan to get qualified for the quadrennial big bash.

The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) had decided to conduct trials for only the 91kg and 52kg categories and selected the rest of the six male boxers for CWG on the basis of a points system put in place before the national championships last year.

Both Tanwar and Olympian Sangwan had claimed bronze medals at the India Open in January. The 20-year-old Tanwar had earlier claimed a gold medal and the Best Boxer award at the Galym Zharylgapov Tournament in Karaganda, Kazakhstan.