Amman (Jordan), Mar 7 (UNI) Six-time world champion M C Mary Kom (51kg) and World Championships silver medallist Amit Panghal (52kg) registered thumping victories and entered the the quarter-finals of Asian Olympic Qualifiers for boxing, here on Saturday.
London Olympic bronze medallist Mary Kom hardly put a foot wrong and sailed away to a commanding 5-0 victory over Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Tamyn Benny of New Zealand on her way to the quarter-finals, where she will face Irish Magno of Philippines.
With Mary Kom’s win, 11 Indian boxers have now entered the quarter-finals at this tournament.
Earlier, World Championships silver medallist Amit Panghal (52kg) recorded a gritty 3-2 win over Mongolia’s Enkhmanadakh Kharkhuu to enter the quarter-finals.
The Asian Championships gold medallist will next take on Southeast Asian Games champion Carlo Paalam of Philippines.
Both, Kom and Panghal are now just one win away from realizing their Tokyo Olympic dream.
Meanwhile, Commonwealth Games champion Gaurav Solanki (57kg), bowed out 1-4 to top seed and world champion Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov of Uzbekistan in the second round after a spirited display.
On Sunday, six Indians will be playing the quarter-final bouts. Lovlina Borgohain (69 kg), Pooja Rani (75 kg), Vikas Krishan (69 kg), Ashish Kumar (75 kg), Sachin Kumar (81 kg), Satish Kumar (+91kg) will all be looking to win their respective bouts and seal their Tokyo tickets.
UNI AVK 2246