Devendro opens with easy win at World boxing

Rookie teen L Devendro Singh gave India's campaign at the World Boxing Championships a perfect start, sailing into the second round in the light-flyweight 49kg division with a thumping win in his opening bout in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Monday.

Devendro beat Nazarliev Asylbek of Kyrgyzstan 14-8 and will now take on Mexico's Joselit Velazquez.

The 19-year-old Manipuri, who beat Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Amandeep Singh and former Youth World champion Thokchom Nanao Singh in the selection trials, was locked 4-4 with his opponent in the opening round before inching ahead to 6-2 in the next three minutes.

The Indian maintained the lead in the final round and closed the issue 14-8 to give India a good start in the first Olympic qualifying event.

The top ten boxers, from the light-flyweight to light-heavyweight division, qualify for the London Olympics from this event.

In the heavyweight and super-heavyweight division, the top six make the cut.

On Tuesday, India has two boxers in action at the event. Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Asian Games bronze medallist Suranjoy Singh (52kg) opens his campaign against Hungary's Zsolt Dobradi.

Former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Akhil Kumar (56kg) is up against Slovakia's Filip Barak in his opening bout.

In the 60kg division, Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Jai Bhagwan starts against Lithuania's Evaldas Petrauskas on October 1.

Commonwealth Games gold medallist Manoj Kumar is up against the Bahamas's Valentino Knowles, who was the 60kg gold-medallist at the Commonwealth Games.

Vikas Krishan, the Asian Games gold medallist in the 60kg division, will make his welterweight debut by taking on Kyrgyzstan's Asadullo Boimurodov.

Olympic hero Vijender Singh, who is the only Indian seeded at the event -- seventh, has a tough opener as he faces Cuba's Olympic silver-medallist Emilio Correa on October 1.

Vijender lost to Correa in the Olympic semi-finals.

On Wednesday, Asian Games silver medallist Dinesh Kumar has an easy opening round bout against Nepal's Deepak Maharjn in the light-heavy weight (81kg) category.

In heavyweight 91kg division, Asian Games silver medallist Manpreet Singh has a bye in the first round and his opening bout is against Tajikistan's Dzahakon Qurbanov, on October 3.

In the super-heavyweight (+91kg) category, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Paramjeet Samota takes on Vitalijus Subacius of Lithuania.