History Made! Vikas Krishan Assured 3rd Straight Asian Games Medal

Asian Games 2018: Indian boxer Amit and Vikas enter the semi-finals and is now assured a medal each in Indonesia.

From left: Sarjubala Devi, Vikas Krishan and Amit Panghal.

(Photo: The Quint)

• Boxers Vikas Krishan (75kg) and Amit Panghal (49kg) are assured medals after qualifying for the semi-finals.
  
• Vikas Krishan beat China’s Tuoheta Erbieke Tanglatihan 3-2 to become the first Indian to win medals at three straight Asian Games.
  
• Amit Pandhal beat South Korea’s Kim Jang Ryong 5-0.
  
• Sarjubala Devi lost 0-5 to China’s Chang Yuan.
  
• Dheeraj Rangi lost to Mongolia’s Baatarsukh Chinzorig 0-5.

Vikas Krishan became the first Indian boxer to win three Asian Games medals on Wednesday after he qualified for the semi-finals of the 75 kg category at the 18th Asian Games.

Apart from Vikas, Amit Panghal was also assured of a medal in the men's 49 kg after he entered the semis of the event.

Meanwhile, Sarjubala Devi and Dheeraj Rangi crashed out after their quarter-final loss in the women’s 51kg and men’s 64kg category respectively.

In the process, both boxers have assurred themselves of a medal as the both the losing boxers in the last four stage are awarded bronze medals as well.

Vikas overcame China's Tuoheta Erbieke Tanglatihan 3-2 in the quarter-final match while Amit overpowered Kim Jang Ryong of North Korea by unanimous decision to book their place in the semi-finals of their respective categories.

(For more latest news and updates from the 2018 Asian Games, click here.)

The 26-year-old Vikas stood out for his sheer grit against the more imposing and faster Tanglatihan. He held his own despite the cut above his eye opening up in the very first round.

The Haryana-boxer, one of only four Indians with a world championships medal to his credit, launched very few attacks but managed to connect just enough straights to get the judges' nod.

He spent most of the bout keeping his distance and closed in only when Tanglatihan tried to target his body.

My performance was affected by the cut I suffered in the first round. I was a bit disturbed and that I was not able to block him (Tanglatihan) that much. If it wasn’t for the cut, I would have beaten him 5-0 like I did in the past. Having said that, he is a good boxer.

Vikas Krishan

Earlier, Vikas had won a lightweight 60kg category gold in the 2010 Asiad before adding a middleweight bronze in the 2014 edition.

Vikas will square off against Kazakhstan's Abilkhan Amankul in the semi-finals.

Earlier in the day, Amit, who was competing in the men’s 49kg category, was far superior against his North Korean opponents and dominated all the three rounds.

The bout saw a fast opening round with both boxers coming up with repeated barrage of punches.

Amit repeatedly used a low guard in an attempt to draw the Korean in and create gaps in his defence. At the same time, the Indian's quickness and superior technique allowed him to maintain a strong defence.

Amit continued to beat his opponents defence and land punches at regular intervals in the second round.

The third round followed a similar pattern as Amit emerged a deserving 5-0 winner.

He (Kim Jang Ryong) was good boxer so it was not easy at all. I always rely on counter-punches and against him it paid off. In third round, he got tired and I also played a bit safe. It was all about keeping the lead after winning the first two rounds.

Amit Panghal

Amit will compete with Carlo Paalam of Philippines for a place in the final.

In women’s boxing, India’s lone survivor Sarjubala Devi bowed out after she lost her quarter-final match against China’s Chang Yuan with a unanimous 5-0 decision.

In the first period, Sarjubala Devi was the more aggressive one as she kept her opponent confined to the ropes.

In the second period, Chang Yuan continued to be reluctant to attack and Sarjubala had to chase her around. In the end she started to stay still on her feet inviting the Chinese boxer to attack her. The highlight of the second period was a right hook Sarjubala landed square on Chang’s nose.

But in the third round the Chinese boxer seemed to grow in confidence. Sarjubala too landed a few decisive punches at the end of the third round. But that was not enough.

In the end she the judges gave a 5-0 decision in favour of Chang Yuan.

National champion Dheeraj Rangi lost to Mongolia's Baatarsukh Chinzorig 0-5.

Dheeraj fought his heart out but didn’t find favour with the judges. The Indian came up with impressive right hooks but was done in by a weak defence.

With this, India equalled its 2014 performance in men's boxing in terms of number of medals assured.

India's best Asian Games performance in boxing remains the one in 2010 Guangzhou where the country picked up nine medals -- two gold, three silver and four bronze medals.