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Vikas Krishan all set for AIBA Pro Boxing debut

Former World Championships Bronze-medallist Vikas Krishan (75kg) Will Become The First Indian Boxer To Compete In The AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) Competition When He Takes On Uzbekistan’s Israil Madrimov In Tashkent On Friday.

PTI | Updated on: 24 Feb 2016, 08:27:16 PM

New Delhi:

Former World Championships bronze-medallist Vikas Krishan (75kg) will become the first Indian boxer to compete in the AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) competition when he takes on  Uzbekistan’s Israil Madrimov in Tashkent on Friday.

The 24-year-old Vikas. who is supported by the JSW Sports Excellence Program (SEP), is targeting a quota place for the Olympics in August.

The APB offers 20 quotas for the Olympics split over weight categories. The middleweight category has two quotas for the Rio Olympics with the top-two boxers in the category making the cut for the quadrennial event.

Vikas, ranked sixth in the world in middleweight, recently won a gold medal at the South Asian Games.

Vikas’ opponent, Madrimov, won the silver medal in the welterweight (69 kg) category at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.

The Indian pugilist will be accompanied by his coach Jagdeep Hooda and left today for Uzbekistan’s capital. Vikas was training at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) Patiala under Dharmendra Yadav and chief national coach GS Sandhu.

According to the APB’s structure, Vikas will also be able to represent India at the Asian and Oceania qualifiers scheduled to be held from March 23 to April 3. A victory over Madrimov will allow Vikas to move into the next round of the APB whereas a loss will end his campaign, a press release stated.

“Over the last couple of months, it has been difficult to find quality sparring partners and it is important to prepare very well if I have to win a quota for the Rio Olympics. The APB stint will allow me to fight against some challenging opponents and that will ensure that I test myself thoroughly and iron out any flaws in my technique,” he said.

Indian eves beat SL in 2nd T20, clinch series

Ranchi, Feb 24 (PTI) The Indian women’s cricket team survived a mid-innings collapse to beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in the second Twenty20 International for an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, here today.

After restricting Sri Lanka to 107/8 in 20 overs, the Indians endured some anxious moments before coming through in 19 overs.

The decision to bat first backfired severely on the Lankans with Ekta Bisht (3/22) and Poonam Yadav (3/17) combining to rip through the visiting line-up.

Dilani Manodara’s 27 was the best that a Lankan batter could manage, followed by skipper Shashikala Siriwardene’s 26-run effort.

In reply, India’s in-form captain Mithali Raj was the star performer for the hosts, striking an unbeaten 51 which came off 52 balls and was studded with half a dozen fours.

However, she could not find a steady partner in the chase until Anuja Patil joined her at the crease. Patil’s 33-ball 34 came handy as India overhauled the target after some hiccups.

Inoka Ranaweera was the top bowler for the Lankans, grabbing three wickets for a mere 10 runs in her four overs.

Brief Scores:

Sri Lanka Women: 107/8 in 20 overs (Dilani Manodara 27, Poonam Yadav 3/17).

India Women: 108/5 in 19 overs (Mithali Raj 51 not out, Inoka Ranaweera 3/10).

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First Published : 24 Feb 2016, 08:04:00 PM

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