Indian Youth boxers made a blistering start to their campaign at the 2012 A. Agalarov Cup – an international youth boxing tournament being held in Baku, Azerbaijan – on Thursday (20 December 2012). The three young Indian glovemen who took to the canvas exhibited great skill in their opening round bouts – A Silambarasan (52kg), Kailash Gill (75kg) and Abhishek Beniwal (81kg) defeated their respective opponents to advance to the quarter-final stage of the tournament.

Silambarasan, who recently won the gold at the 2012 Indo-Sri Lanka Duel Boxing Championship in Colombo, went up against Kazimov Natig of the Azerbaijan B team. The 17 year old dominated the proceedings from the word go and through all three rounds of action – his counter attacks doing the most damage. The Azerbaijani boxer had no answer to the superior tactics of Silambarasan. He went on to make his place in the round of eight of the fly weight category with an impressive score of 5 nil.

In the middle weight division Gill, the former Junior National Champion, made a stunning comeback from being down in the bout to overpower Farzali Taleh of Azerbaijan A team in what turned out to be a thrilling contest. The first round went in favour of the Azerbaijani boxer, but the Indian came back strongly in the next two rounds to win on points 3-2. His strong right jabs and hooks being the most potent of his punches.

In the quarter-finals Kailash will take on Amir Chopurov of Georgia who scripted a striking performance in his opening round bout, knocking out his opponent in the first round itself. In the light heavy weight class Baneiwal too, was in sublime touch as he powered through into the round of eight with a stunning victory over Imnov Pasha also form Azerbaijan. The 18 year old made full use of his long reaching arms and his hard hitting combinations to get the better of Pasha (5-0).

By Indian Sports News Network