London Olympics: Devendro Singh punches his way into pre-quarters, beats Molina 24-2

Young and restless, confident and fearless. These traits best define Indian boxers and were best highlighted by 20-year-old Devendro Singh here on Tuesday, says a report in The DNA, adding that it took just two minutes and 24 seconds for the pugilist from Manipur to enter the pre-quarterfinals of the men’s light flyweight category at the London Games.

“He was leading 24-2 when the referee stopped contest. His opponent, Bayron Figueroa Molina of Honduras, wasn’t a tough nut to crack, but such was the aggression shown by Singh that it brought the British armymen — who have been given unsold tickets at the Games — on their feet. Molina left the ring in tears,” adds the report.

Meanwhile The Times Of India report says that pint-sized dynamo L Devendro Singh made a sensational debut in the London Olympics as the Manipuri boxer needed just two minutes and 24 seconds at the ExCel Arena on Tuesday to storm into the pre-quarterfinals of men's light flyweight category (49kg).

“His opponent, Bayron Molina Figueroa of Honduras, didn't know what hit him. Devendro stopped him with 36 seconds left in the opening round as the referee called off the unequal contest. The RSC verdict for Devendro helped him join teammates Vijender Singh and Jai Bhagwan in the pre-quarterfinals of the boxing competition,” adds the report.

According to a report in The Hindu, Indian rower Sawarn Singh and the pair of Manjeet Singh and Sandeep Kumar on Tuesday were out of medal contention and now will be looking to have a respectable finish in the semi-finals of the 2012 London Games rowing competition at Eaton Dorney.
“Sawarn qualified for the semifinal ‘C’ of the men’s single sculls where the rowers will be vying for a place between 13th to 18th. Sawarn finished fourth in the third quarterfinal with a timing of 7:11.59. He was second after the 500m mark but slowly ran out of steam. Manjeet and Sandeep Kumar booked their place in semifinal ‘D’ of the lightweight double sculls and will be looking for a finish between 19th and 24th,” adds the report.