Samota, Amandeep in Asian boxing semis

Commonwealth champion Paramjeet Samota (91kg) and CWG bronze medallist Amandeep Singh (49kg) advanced to the semi-finals of the 2011 ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships in Incheon, South Korea, on Monday.

But there was disappointment for the Indian camp, as three other boxers lost in the quarter-finals of the tournament.

Asian Games silver medallist Dinesh Kumar (81kg), Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Jai Bhagwan (60kg) and national champion Kuldeep Singh (75kg) bowed out of the tournament.

Samota, contesting in the heavyweight division, was up against local lad Chan Yeong Jeon. The Indian continued his winning streak as he went on to beat the South Korean 18:15 on points.

The Guangzhou Asian Game gold medallist, with the help of some hard- hitting uppercuts and left hooks, took a commanding three-point lead in the first round. The second, though, belonged to the Korean boxers who won it 5:4.

But the Indian came back in the third and won the contest, securing a semi-final berth.

Samota will now take on Xuanxuan Wang of China on August 11.

In the light-flyweight division, compatriot Amandeep had a tough quarter-final bout. Up against Jinyong Jiang of China, the 2007 Asian championship bronze medalist, he had to dig deep to edge past the Chinese boxer.

After the opening three minutes, the score was 2-2. But in the second round, the 25-year-old Indian took a crucial one point lead to make it 7:6.

In final round, Jiang tried hard to regain the advantage, but the Indian held on to secure a place in the semi-finals with a 13:12 victory.

In the semis, he will lock horns with Asylbek Nazaraliev of Kyrgyzstan, also on the 11th.

Paramjeet and Amandeep are now assured of at least of a bronze medal finish in the competition.

But the day did not turn out so well for Dinesh Kumar, who was participating in his opening bout after getting a bye in the first round.

The 22-year-old was completely at bay against Arman Rysbek of Kazakhstan. The strong Kazakh boxer dominated throughout, never allowing Dinesh to get back in the game.

In the end a 13:24 loss brought Dinesh's Asian Championships campaign to an end.

2009 Asian Championship silver medallist Jai Bhagwan, in the lightweight category, also suffered similar fate, as he went down to Madadi Nagzibekov of Tajikistan. He lost 16:26 on points.

Kuldeep Singh too had a bad day at office. In the middleweight class, he lost to Yu-Ting Yang Chinese Taipei 15:10.