Source: The Sangai Express / Agencies
New Delhi, June 10 2009:
Thokchom Nanao Singh assured himself of a medal by advancing to the semifinals of the Asian Boxing Championships in Zhuhai, China on Tuesday.
Youth World champion Nanao (48kg) rallied to beat Chia-Lun Lu of Chinese Taipei 8-4 to reach the semifinals.
He trailed by a couple of points in the opening three minutes before getting his act together in the next two rounds.
"We were slightly scared after the first two rounds but Nanao boxed really well to pull it off," national coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu said.
Nanao will face Mongolia's Nyambayar Tughtsogt in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, Dinesh Kumar (81kg) scored a sensational knock-out win and fellow Olympian Jitender Kumar (54kg) was equally dominating in his quarter-final triumph as three Indians stormed into the semi-finals on Wednesday.
Dinesh was brutal in his knock-out win over Hsiao Huang-Yi as the bout had barely started when a ferocious body blow by the Bhiwani-boxer grounded his Taipei rival for good.
Jitender thrashed Enkhjargal Iderkhuu of Mongolia 10-2 in a lopsided bout to assure himself of his first medal since jumping a division from fly weight (51kg) this year.
Jai Bhagwan (60kg) was no less impressive in his 12-3 victory over local favourite Hu Quinxun.
The trio's triumph means that India is assured of at least five medals as Nanao Singh (48kg) and Paramjit Samota (+91kg) had also made the semifinals.
Jitender takes on Chinese Taipei's Liu Shih Jung in the semifinals on Friday.
Jai Bhagwan will be up against Kazakh Zhailauov Gany in the semifinals.
Dinesh also has a Kazakh awaiting him in the semis.
The World Cup bronze medallist meets Yeleussinov Dauren on Friday.