Asian Games: Ankush Panghal stuns Uzbek world champion to reach gold-medal bout

Ankush Panghal (IANS Photo)

NEW DELHI: India’s Ankush Panghal produced a stirring comeback to stun reigning world champion Fazliddin Erkinboev of Uzbekistan and storm into the men’s 80kg gold-medal bout at the Asian Games on Tuesday.Ankush was up against it after dropping the opening round. But the Indian boxer fought back in the second. He then turned the semifinal on its head with a commanding final round, sweeping all five judges’ cards to seal the 4-1 victory.

The win sends Ankush into the final and gives India another chance to add to its boxing medal tally. His performance was built on a strong finish after a difficult start, as he stayed in the contest and raised his intensity when the bout was on the line.Asian Games Full Coverage | Medal Tally | Schedule

Ankush turns the tide after losing opening round

The semifinal began with Fazliddin taking control, earning a 4-1 verdict in the first round. Ankush needed a response to keep his gold-medal hopes alive, and delivered one in the second, which he won 3-2 on the judges’ cards.With the contest finely balanced heading into the third, Ankush produced his best boxing of the bout. He dominated the final round and secured a unanimous 5-0 verdict, completing the comeback against the reigning world champion.

Parveen Hooda also enters final

Earlier, India’s Parveen Hooda advanced to the women’s 65kg gold-medal bout after defeating China’s Li Shu 5-0 in her semifinal.Parveen’s progress marks an improvement on her bronze-medal finish at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou. That medal was later taken away after the International Testing Agency suspended her for 22 months over a whereabouts failure.Indian boxers have already surpassed their four-medal haul from the previous edition, with six pugilists having secured entries into medal rounds at these Games. Narender Berwal, the bronze medallist from Hangzhou in the men’s +90kg category, was also scheduled to fight later on Tuesday for a place in the final.