Boxing World Championship 2021: Akash Kumar and Narender Berwal cruise into quarterfinals

Indian boxers Akash Kumar (54kg) and Narender Berwal (+92kg) advanced to the quarterfinals of the AIBA men's World Championships on Sunday, notching up contrasting but exhilarating victories against their respective opponents.

While Akash Kumar staved off a stiff challenge from Puerto Rico's Caleb Tirado to clinch it 5-0, Narender Berwal pummelled a heavily distracted and mostly sluggish Jakhon Qurbonov of Tajikistan, stopping him in the second round itself. Akash, who received a walkover in the last round, was up against a sprightly Tirado and he did trouble the Indian with his close-range game.

However, Akash stuck to hitting straight and clean, a tactic that found favour with the judges. The Puerto Rican also endured a point's deduction in the second round after he picked up a warning for failing to keep his head up. Akash will square off against Rio Olympics silver-medallist Yoel Finol.

Finol had originally won a bronze in Rio but he was elevated after the original silver-winner, Russian Misha Aloian was disqualified for doping. Narender was all pumped up in his bout against Qurbonov, pounding him with terrific body shots that left the Tajik desperate for a breather in the opening three minutes itself. Qurbonov was scurrying for cover for most of the bout and the referee put an end to his misery about a minute into the second round following a standing eight count.