Boxers Maan, Ashish in junior World Championship quarters

Boxers Aditya Maan (66 kg) and Ashish (63 kg) powered through to the quarterfinals of the Junior World Championships here and are just a step away from securing a medal.

The Indian pugilists overhauled their respective opponents to enter the last eight Wednesday but it was disappointment for Junior Asian Championship bronze medallist Vishnu Dayanand Chayal (57 kg) as he came close to grabbing the quarterfinal spot.

Maan, also a bronze medal winner at the Junior Continental Championships earlier this year, was up against American Javier Estrada in the Round of 16. The Indian made a strong start taking the fight to the American and gained a clear advantage and put Estrada on the back foot owing to some straight punches.

Maan did not allow his opponent to come close through the entire bout and went on to win by a unanimous decision. Next he will lock horns against Brazilian Cassio Olivera Santos.

In the light welterweight division, 15-year-old Chandigarh boy Ashish gave a good account of his skills as he plundered to a unanimous victory against Jegors Artjomovs of Latvia. In the quarters he will take on Shabbos Negmatulloev of Tajikistan.

In featherweight category, Vishnu's campaign came to an end at the hands of English Dalton Smith. The 16-year-old put up a strong show but lost by just one point.