Indians assured of 3 bronze, at least

Three pugilists — Umesh Yadav (46 kg), Vikas Yadav (48 kgs) and Vipin Kumar (50 kgs) — ensured themselves and India three medals in the ongoing World Cadet Boxing Championships at Baku, Azerbaijan. V Durga Rao will be competing in the 54 kg quarter final bout later in the evening.

However, Parmod Kumar’s campaign in the 52kg came to an end as he lost to Russian Yevgenyi Averin 25-15 in the quarterfinals. Averin was the gold medallist in the 48kg category in the last edition of the championships at Istanbul, Turkey.

But that was to be the sole disappointment for India in the morning session as Vikas won 18-12 against local favourite Mamishzade Elvin. He will now be up against American Louie Byrd in the last-four stage. Byrd outscored Australian Jamie Hardling in the second round of his quarterfinal bout.

Vipin, meanwhile, beat Ukrainian Borys Storoznenko 22-7. He now meets Sang Min Lee of Korea in the semifinals on Friday. Lee overcame Zahiddin Hayderbekov of Kyrgyzstan 22-17.