Vijender does it again, breaks medal jinx at World C'ships

Indian boxing's jinx-breaker Vijender Singh achieved yet another historic feat as he ensured the country's first medal in the World Championships by advancing to the middle-weight semifinals in Milan, Italy.

The world number two and top seed Vijender out-punched Ukrainian Sergiy Derevyanchenko 12-4 late last night to become the first Indian to make the last-four stage of the prestigious event.

"I am on cloud nine...It's a feeling that cannot be described in words. I have broken another jinx for India and I am very happy," the 23-year-old who won India's maiden Olympic medal -- a bronze -- in Beijing last year, told PTI from Milan.

Vijender is now up against former light heavy weight world champion Abbos Atoev, who returned to middle weight this year, but the Indian can draw confidence from the fact that he beat the Uzbek as recently as the Asian Championships in June in China.

"I always believe that one should never get intimidated by the opponent, it hampers the performance. So, I am not even thinking about his past record. After all, what matters is how I perform in those 11 minutes when we are competing," he said.