Solanki makes it all-win day for India at World Youth Boxing

Asian silver-medallist Gaurav Solanki (52kg) turned it around remarkably to beat Belarus` Dzmitry Asanau and cap off an all-win day for India at the World Youth Boxing Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria today.

New Delhi: Asian silver-medallist Gaurav Solanki (52kg) turned it around remarkably to beat Belarus` Dzmitry Asanau and cap off an all-win day for India at the World Youth Boxing Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria Thursday.

Out-witted in the first three minutes by Asanau, Solanki roared back in the next two rounds to clinch a 2-1 victory on points in his opening bout after getting a bye in the earlier round. Solanki will face Ireland`s William Donoghue in the pre-quarterfinals. In the 64kg division, Neeraj Parasar completed a comprehensive win in his opening bout, which ended in the second round itself. The Indian won via the Technical Knockout (TKO) after his Turkmanian opponent Chagrylbeg Pazzyev was forced out of the contest with an injury. Parasar will face Romania`s Ninel Gheorghe in the pre-quarterfinal tomorrow. Tomorrow, quite a few Indians would be seen in action at the mega-event, which is doubling up as a qualifying event for the Youth Olympics to be held in Nanjing, China from August 16 to 28. Women will open the day with Jamuna Boro (60kg) taking on Ukraine`s Anhelina Bondarenko in the pre-quarterfinals. Manju Bombariya (75kg) will open her campaign against Turkey`s Sema Caliskan in another round of 16 bout after getting an opening-round bye. In the afternoon session, Sathish Kumar (56kg) will face Cuba`s Javier Ibanez in the second round, followed by Neel Kamal Singh (75kg) who faces Finland`s Kalle Kallioinen. The youngsters, all in the age bracket of 17 and 18, will have to reach at least the semi-finals of the world event to make the cut for the Youth Olympics. The Indians are competing under the International Boxing Association (AIBA) flag due to the termination of the Indian Boxing Federation following its failure to comply with the world body?s directives on holding elections. India had won a couple of silver medals and a bronze in the previous edition in Yerevan, Armenia.