Nanao, Suranjoy, Dilbagh win; Chhote Lal lose

Thokchom Nanao Singh, Suranjoy Singh and Dilbagh Singh clinched the titles in their respective weight categories at the fourth Super Cup Boxing Championship.

Mumbai: Top Indian boxers Thokchom Nanao Singh, Suranjoy Singh and Dilbagh Singh warmed up nicely for the season ahead by clinching the titles in their respective weight categories at the fourth Super Cup Boxing Championship here on Sunday.

But another boxer and member of SAF Games squad, Chhote Lal Yadav of Services, bit the dust in the 69 kg category against his less fancied rival Sandeep Kumar of East Zone on the final day of the championship at the Shivaji Park Gymkhana. Nanao, all set to take part in an international tournament in China next month, and Services teammate Suranjoy - who is to lead the national challenge at the SAF Games in Dhaka later this month -- made light work of their rivals to clinch the titles in the 48 and 51 kg weight divisions respectively.Manipur-born Nanao, India’s first-ever Asian junior world champion, conquered Amandeep Singh of Railways, who is set for Dhaka, 10-3 in the final of the lightweight class. Nanao took a 4-1 lead in the opening round and then increased the lead gradually to easily pocket the bout. But Suranjoy was given a tough fight by Sunil Kumar of North Zone in the opening round before he showed his technical superiority in the next two to emerge winner by 5-3 margin. Dilbagh of Railways fought an aggressive battle with Services rival Jai Singh Patil for the welterweight crown and won with a huge 13-6 margin. Dilbagh took a handy 7-4 lead in the first round and then led 11-5 in the second before slowing down in the third to emerge comfortable winner. But the real surprise came in the 69 kg final when Sandeep Singh shocked Chhote Lal. Even though the scores were level 7-7 after three rounds the former was declared the winner on the basis of individual scores. Yadav took a mandatory eight-count after being floored by his rival in the second round and that was the turning point in the contest. The bantamweight (54 kg) gold went to Narjit Singh of Services who outpointed M Venkatesh of Railways 9-4 in the final. PTI