2019 World Boxing Championship: Amit Panghal becomes first Indian to reach finals

In a stellar show, Indian men boxers garnered their best-ever finish at the World boxing championship after Amit Panghal and Manish Kaushik guaranteed medals at the ongoing edition in Ekaterinburg, Russia. For the first time ever, India will win more than one medal in a single edition of the world championship.

2018 Asian Games gold medallist Amit Panghal continued his fairytale run to script history by becoming the first Indian male pugilist to qualify for the finale of the Boxing Worlds after he defeated Saken Bibossinov of Kazakhstan in a split 3:2 decision.

Bibossinov, who slain Armenia's European gold-medallist and sixth seed Artur Hovhannisyan in his quarterfinal showdown was expected to put in a tough contest. Amit, however, took up a smart display to restrict his opponent before taking on the attack in the final round and wrap up the match in style.

Road to Finals

Earlier, the 23-year-old got the better of Caarlo Palam of Philippines 4-1 in the quarter-finals showdown to ensure a medal on Wednesday. Panghal had defeated Palam in the semi-final of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.

Prior to that, Panghal beat Turkey's Batuhan Citfci and he lived up to the expectations when he soared to a comprehensive 5-0 victory to ensure a quarter-finals spot. The Asian Games and Asian Championship gold medallist boxer, Panghal will face Kazakhstan's Saken Bibossinov in the semi-final match on Friday. Bibossinow defeated Armenia's Artur Hovhannisyan 4-1 in the quarter-finals.

Amit Panghal became the fifth Indian male boxer to win a medal at the World Championship. Across the history of Men's World Boxing Championship, India have won four medals, all bronze by Vijender Singh (2009), Vikas Krishan Yadav (2011), Shiva Thapa (2015), Gaurav Bhiduri (2017).