Indian boxers continued to pack a mighty punch at the World Championships, as Manoj Kumar (64kg) and Manpreet Singh (91kg) entered the pre-quarter-finals with contrasting victories in their respective second round bouts, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Friday.
While Asian Games silver-medallist Manpreet clinched a comprehensive victory over Seychelles' Keddy Agnes, sixth seed and Commonwealth Games champion Manoj got the better of 2011 European champion Fatih Keles of Turkey.
Both Manoj and Manpreet had first-round byes.
Manpreet won 3-0 in the overall analysis, the round-by-round break-up being 30-27, 30-27, 30-27.
Manoj also emerged victorious 3-0.
"Manpreet dominated all three rounds even though the other guy was very stout and experienced. Manpreet put to use some precise uppercuts and straight punches to unsettle him," national coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu said.
The 28-year-old Manpreet will now face world No 1 and Olympic bronze-medallist Teymur Mammadov of Azerbaijan, who is top-seeded, in the round of 16 on Monday.
Manoj, meanwhile, will take on Canada's Yves Ulysse, who defeated Juan Romero of Mexico.
The Manoj-Ulysse clash is also scheduled for Monday.
"Manoj fought from long range in the opening round and in the second round, the other guy resorted to some tempo boxing. It was an intense bout but Manoj dominated the final round," said Sandhu.
Mammadov, the current European Championships silver-medallist, got a first-round bye and he thrashed Efetobor Apochi of Nigeria in his opening bout, on Friday, which preceded Manpreet's bout.
"No doubt it is a tough bout, let us see. We will plan and work out our strategy. We have seen this boy and he is a top boxer, but Manpreet is no less," said Sandhu.
The 20-year-old Mammadov had won a silver medal in the 2011 World Championships in Azerbaijan besides being the European champion in the same year,
Earlier, Mandeep Jangra (69kg), Vijender Singh (75kg) and Vikash Malik (60kg) had entered the round of 32 after winning their opening bouts.
Saturday will be a busy day for the Indian contingent, with as many as four boxers in action.
Image: Manpreet Singh
Photograph: IBF Media
