Indian Boxers Amit Panghal (54 kg), Shiva Thapa (64 kg) and Sanjeet Kumar (91 kg) have reached the finals of the Asian Boxing Championship in Dubai with resounding victories in the last-four stage yesterday in their respective weight categories.
While Panghal out-punched Saken Bibossinov of Kazakhstan 5-0, Thapa, the first Indian boxer in the tournament history to secure five medals, won over defending champion Bakhodur Usmonov of Tajikistan to make the finals with a 4-0 verdict. Second seed Sanjeet defeated Tursunov Sanjar of Uzbekistan by 5-0.
However, national champion Varinder Singh settled for the bronze medal. Vikas Krishan Yadav also finished with a bronze medal.
Panghal will now face reigning Olympic and world champion Shakhobidin Zoirov of Uzbekistan in the final on Monday. While Shiva Thapa will face Baatarsukh Chinzorig of Mongolia in the final.