Boxer Akhil Kumar scores patriotic win

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BEIJING: Surprise package Akhil Kumar celebrated India's Independence Day by moving a win away from giving the country its first Olympic boxing medal on Friday.

After outboxing 2005 world silver medallist Ali Hallab of France in the first round, Kumar sent home Russia's world champion Sergey Vodopyanov, who was the favourite in the bantamweight class.

Boxing with his arms down and skilfully counter-punching, Kumar won on countback after the judges scored it 9-9.

After the verdict, he raised his arms up the air as if he had just won the gold while Vodopyanov burst into tears.

"Today is India's Independence Day and I have given a gift to the nation in the shape of this victory," Kumar told reporters.

The shaven-headed 27-year-old will face Moldova's Veaceslav Gojan in the quarter-finals and will make sure of at least a bronze if he wins.

"I don't want silver or bronze," he warned. "Gold is my only target."

The other big names in action, starting with Russia's Alexey Tishchenko, smoothly advanced to the last eight.

Tishchenko, trying to become the first boxer in nearly 30 years to win gold in two different weight classes, outboxed Australian Anthony Little.

The prolific 24-year-old, who won the featherweight title four years ago but has moved to lightweight, was much too fast and clever for Little, winning an 11-3 points decision.

Ukraine's Vasyl Lomachenko highlighted his tag as the favourite for featherweight gold by outclassing Uzbek Bahodirjon Sultonov.

The 20-year-old Lomachenko relied on an exciting mix of skill and power to win a 13-1 points decision. He could be tested in the quarter-finals against China's Li Yang, who qualified with a controversial 6-5 points decision over Ecuador's Luis Porozo.

"I'm so sad. I think it's unfair," Porozo told. "I don't agree with the judges but I have to respect their decision and learn from this for the next time."

The US team, meanwhile, suffered another blow with featherweight Raynell Williams losing to experienced Frenchman Khedafi Djelkhir. The Americans, who had come here with nine boxers, only have four left.

China lead the gold medal table with 26 to the United States' 14. The hosts came second in Athens 2004 and are eager to go one better in front of their own 1.3 billion people.