India pin medal hopes on Kumar trio
BEIJING (Reuters) - Indian hopes of a first Olympic boxing medal were high on Saturday, with three fighters reaching the quarterfinals. The trio, coincidentally all called Kumar, a common name in India, will secure at least bronze if they win their next bouts.
Light-flyweight Jitender Kumar reached the last eight on Saturday by outpointing Uzbek Tulashboy Doniyorov 13-6 and middleweight Vijender Kumar followed him through with a 13-3 points win over Thailand's Angkhan Chomphuphuang.
Bantamweight Akhil Kumar had advanced on Friday, extending a brilliant run by upsetting Russian world champion Sergey Vodopyanov.
Jitender, who survived a fright when Doniyorov opened a cut on his chin but was able to finish the bout, paid tribute to Akhil for giving him precious advice.
"Akhil had fought him (Doniyorov) before and knew a lot about him," Jitender said. "We talked about the fight last night. I couldn't sleep but Akhil told me I would win. All the credit goes to him."
Jitender will be tested in the next round when he meets Russia's Georgy Balakshin.
Akhil, who had outboxed 2005 world silver medallist Ali Hallab of France in the first round, seems India's best bet.
The shaven-headed 27-year-old, whose win over Vodopyanov came on India's Independence Day, will face Moldova's Veaceslav Gojan for a place in the last four.
