Vikas loses in semis, settles for bronze at World C`ships

New Delhi: Teen Indian boxing sensation Vikas Krishan`s dream run at the World Championships came to an end as he settled for a bronze medal after losing his welterweight (69kg) semifinal bout in Baku, Azerbaijan on Friday.

Up against Ukraine`s European Championship bronze-medallist Taras Shelestyuk, the 19-year-old Vikas went down 12-15.

The Asian Games gold medallist thereby repeated the bronze-medal winning feat of Olympian Vijender Singh at the mega-event but has become the youngest Indian to notch a medal at the showcase.

Facing a stronger rival, Vikas kept a shell guard to stave off an early assault but the sheer power of Shelestyuk`s hooks and uppercuts forced him to open up which allowed the Ukrainian to connect a few telling jabs.

Strength proved to be a key factor as Vikas found it tough to cope with a muscular rival, who threw caution to the wind and fought aggressively to lead 4-2 in the opening round.

In the second round, Vikas changed strategy and tried keeping Shelestyuk at bay by fighting from a distance but the Ukrainian`s precision was hard to deal with for the Indian, whose ribcage became the target of some powerful bodyblows.

The round ended 10-6 in favour of the Ukrainian and it required a miraculous effort to turn the deficit around. But the guile and adaptability which Vikas showed in his earlier bouts was missing today against an opponent focussed on attacking.

The Indian was much more precise with his punches in the final round but this time the Ukrainian kept a shell guard to deny the Indian. Even though Vikas managed to win the last round 6-5 but it could not wipe off the overall deficit.

Shelestyuk will now be up against Serik Sapiyev of Kazakhstan who left his Lithuanian rival Egidijus Kavaliauskas with a bloodied nose in the first round itself, forcing him to retire at the end of the opening three minutes.

The Kazakh was leading 8-2 when the Lithuanian corner decided to concede the bout.

PTI

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Japan beat India to claim bronze in Asian Women`s CT

Ordos (China): India blew away a 2-0 lead as Japan scored a controversial golden goal in extra time off a penalty stroke and snatched the bronze medal in the Asian Women`s Champions Trophy on Saturday.

India scored twice by the 28th minute but the Japanese capitalised on Indian errors in the second half to not only equalise but score a golden goal through Ai Murakami to destroy India`s dreams of going back home with at least a bronze medal.

India scored through Vandana Katariya (7th) and Rani Rampal (28th), while Japan`s scorers were Rika Komazawa (52nd), Kaori Fujio (63rd) and Ai Murakami (76th).

Japan had earned a penalty corner in the 76th minute, which was saved by an Indian defender`s stick. However, the umpire pointed for a stroke claiming that the ball had hit the defender. And even though the Indians protested, the stroke stayed.

Unlike, the matches earlier in the group stage, India looked more in control as they moved the ball with confidence.

Asunta Lakra once again kept the forwards fed with passes on both the flanks and through the middle.

India took advantage of Japan`s errors in the first half as they made inroads through the middle and used both the flanks effectively.

In the 7th minute, Vandana Katariyan`s field attempt sped past the Japanese goalkeeper, who was caught off the line for India to take the lead.

India wasted the first penalty corner as the push wasn`t effective enough. But they managed to increase the lead in the 28th minute off the second penalty corner when Rani scored.

Japan, meanwhile, were wilting in the midfield as India pushed forward. At the break, India led 2-0.

Throwing more players upfront, Japan started looking to cut the scores. India still had more of the ball but they were reluctant to release the ball fast enough and gave away counter-attacks in the midfield.

Japan earned their third penalty corner off a counter-attack and Rika Komazawa pushed for goal. With the scores at 1-2, Japan increased the pressure.

India, instead of playing the ball around the flanks, got bogged down in the middle and Japan took more of possession.

When only seven minutes were left, a hard hit from outside the circle was deflected into the Indian goal by Kaori Fujio.

At 2-2, the Indians looked deflated.

In the extra time of seven and a half minutes each, Japan had their fourth penalty corner in the 76th minute and the shot hit an Indian defender`s stick but the umpire Liu Xiaoying pointed for a stroke claiming that the ball had hit the defender.

Interestingly, the Japanese players were running to the corner for a long corner when the umpire blew for a stroke against India.

The Indian players protested and even after both the umpires consulted, the stroke stayed.

Yogita Bali, the Indian goalkeeper went the right way but Ai Murakami`s push had enough power to beat the keeper.

Indian coach CR Kumar was disappointed but said that the umpiring was poor in the match.

"I cannot put everything on umpiring. We need to improve upon our fitness and play more high-intensity matches to be able to compete at the top level," he said.

PTI

First Published: Saturday, September 10, 2011, 15:52

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