Deepak, Poonam advance as India endures mixed start at World Boxing Cup China

India's Boxing World Cup Stage 2 campaign got off to a mixed start in China on Sunday, with Deepak and Poonam emerging as the country's only winners on the opening day of competition.

Competing in the women's 54kg category, Poonam secured a comfortable unanimous decision victory over Uzbekistan's Aziza Yokubova in the preliminary round of 32. The Indian boxer dominated the contest to claim a 5-0 win and advance to the next stage.

Deepak joined her in the following round after producing an equally impressive performance in the men's 70kg division. He outclassed Turkmenistan's Bayramdurdy Nurmuhammedov, earning a unanimous 5-0 verdict in his preliminary round of 32 bout.

Seven Indians suffer early exits

While Deepak and Poonam progressed, the rest of the Indian contingent endured a difficult day in the ring.

Rishi Singh bowed out in the men's 50kg round of 16 after a 0-5 defeat to Azerbaijan's Subhan Mamedov. In the women's 75kg category, Sanamacha Chanu Thokchom also suffered a unanimous decision loss against Canada's Tammara Thibeault.

Sawan Gill's campaign ended with a 0-5 defeat to Norway's Omar Shiha in the men's 90kg division. Anmol came close to progressing in the men's 60kg category but was edged out 2-3 by American boxer Salim Ellis Bey.

Harsh Choudhary's contest in the men's 90kg category was stopped in the third round due to injury, handing Sweden's Elwin Belezika victory through RSC (I).

India also faced disappointment in the quarterfinals. Naina was defeated 0-5 by China's Xiaomeng Wang in the women's 80kg category, while Alfiya Tarannum Akram Khan Pathan suffered a unanimous decision loss to Poland's Elzbieta Wojcik in the women's 90+kg event.