Amit Panghal and Gaurav Solanki eliminated excellent opponents in the first day of the Cologne Boxing World Cup

The Cologne Boxing World Cup is one of the last highlights of the boxing events this year which began in Köln, Germany. Among the best Asian teams, the Indians are attending in the strong international competition in the city of Köln. Asian Games winner Amit Panghal and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Gaurav Solanki both won their debuting contests against strong opponents in the event.

Five women and eight men Indian boxers were registered to the Cologne Boxing World Cup following their strong preparations. Germany’s top international event has been re-scheduled twice this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and postponed finally from October to December. The name of the event was known as Chemistry Cup in the previous decades and has got the tradition and bright boxing history with many stars on the board.

The best six elite female and ten male Indian boxers are attending in European training camps and events until to prepare well to the World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event which is scheduled to be held in June 2021. India qualified already nine boxers including four girls to the Tokyo Olympic Games through the Asian & Oceanian Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event which was held in Amman, Jordan on March 2020.

Sonia Lather Singh was the first Indian in the ring at the Cologne Boxing World Cup who met with Ukraine’s Snizhana Kholodkova at the featherweight (57kg). She tried to overcame her Ukrainian opponent in the attacks and used a patient style of boxing. The Indian, who claimed silver medal at the 2016 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, avoided the Ukrainian punches and her counter-attacks came with perfect timing. The experienced Indian was better in all aspects of boxing today and eliminated a strong European opponent.

India’s Amit Panghal is the defending ASBC Asian Champion and Asian Games winner who claimed silver also at the 2019 AIBA World Boxing Championships. The 25-year-old Indian flyweight (52kg) boxer had a seriously tough opponent as first, France’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Billal Bennama who is also a Tokyo Olympian. Panghal controlled two rounds out of the three well enough and landed the better punches in their tactical contest in Germany. The final verdict was split decision in the favour of the Indian boxer who bowed out another world star in Cologne.

Ashish Kumar was an unknown boxer in the beginning of the Olympic cycle but he worked hard to reach the level of the bests at the middleweight (75kg). He claimed silver medal at the Bangkok 2019 ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships and qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games this March. Ashish Kumar tried to use his better footwork to land punches against Netherlands’ Max Van der Pas who is member of their national team since 2011. The Dutch boxer was slightly better in the exchanges and defeated Kumar in the Cologne Boxing World Cup.

Mohamed Hussamuddin joined to the national team in the beginning of 2017 with a silver medal at the Strandja Memorial Tournament. The Indians have got amazing boxers at the featherweight (57kg) and among them Hussamuddin is one of the most experienced in the international stage. The Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Indian controlled all of the rounds against Germany’s Umar Bajwa and advanced to the semi-finals of the event.

Commonwealth Games winner Gaurav Solanki could not qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games yet but he is India’s next high hope at the Cologne Boxing World Cup. The 23-year-old boxer caught Germany’s AIBA World Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Murat Yildirim in the first round with clear shots. Solanki worked well through all of the rounds and eliminated the 24-year-old German in another exciting featherweight (57kg) contest.

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