Indian boxers off to a flying start in World junior

New Delhi, May 24 (IANS) Indian boxers made a formidable start in the World Junior Boxing Championships, with Shiva Thapa and Sumit Sangwan outpunching their opponents to advance to the second round in Yerevan, Armenia.

Thapa defeated Andranik Hiloyan of Armenia 11-2 in the light bantamweight (52 kg) while Sangwan, too, dominated his bout, thrashing Isarel's Levi Yossi 11-0 in the light middleweight category (70 kg).

Thapa raced to a 6-0 lead in the opening round before Hiloyan came back to take the second round 2-1. Thapa dominated the third round securing 4 points before the referee stopped the contest.

The promising Indian, who won a gold medal on his international debut in the Hyder Aliyev tournament last year, will meet Ukraine's Yuriy Shestak, who beat Bulgaria's Alexandry Morarou 11-4.

Sangwan unleashed a flurry of punches right from the start. He had scores of 3, 5 and 3 in the three rounds.

He will next face Turkey's Aksim Burak, who beat Gabor Breznai of Hungary 6-5 in a tough contest.