Boxer Vikas enters quarters at Olympic qualifiers

Vikas Krishan (75kg) defeated Kvachatadze Zaal of Georgia in a one-sided contest to enter the quarter-finals of the World Olympic Qualifying Tournament here on Wednesday.

Vikas, who turned professional recently, is just one win away from securing a berth at the upcoming Rio Olympics. The Indian overshadowed his opponent in all three rounds, easing to a 3-0 win.

The 24-year-old, who is seeded second in his weight category in this tournament, will take on Lee Dongyun of South Korea in the quarter-finals.

The 2011 World Championships bronze-medallist became the fourth Indian to enter the last-eight stage of the tournament. Manoj Kumar (64kg) and Sumit Sangwan (81kg) earlier booked their spots in the quarter-finals of their respective weight categories. All three have to make the semis to book an Olympic berth besides being assured of a medal.

Laishram Devendro Singh (49kg) is through to the semi-finals but has to enter the final of his weight category to book his tocket to Rio. Devendro will meet Spain's Samuel Heredia, who stunned top seed Dmytro Zamotaev of Ukraine, in the final on Friday.

The ongoing tournament offers a total of 39 Olympic spots. The flyweight (52 kg), bantamweight (56 kg), lightweight (60 kg), light welterweight (64 kg), welterweight (69 kg), middleweight (75 kg) and light heavyweight (81 kg) categories will see the top five boxers in each class make the cut for Rio while both finalists in the light flyweight (49 kg) division will qualify.

However, only the gold medal winners in the heavyweight (91 kg) and super heavyweight (91+ kg) divisions will be able to travel to Rio de Janeiro.

--IANS

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