Boxers Deepak Bhoria (51kg), Mohammed Hussamudin (57kg) and Nishant Dev (71kg) scripted history as they ensured India's best-ever haul of three medals by storming into the semi-finals of the men's World Championships here on Wednesday.
The quarterfinal wins mean the three pugilists will take home at least a bronze medal each. India's previous best show came in 2019 edition when Amit Panghal clinched an unprecedented silver and Manish Kaushik grabbed a bronze medal.
Kicking off the proceeding for India, Deepak defeated Nurzhigit Diushebaev of Kyrgyzstan by a 5-0 unanimous verdict to continue his scintillating run in the flyweight category, which will feature at the Paris Olympics.
Such was the Indian's domination that the referee was forced to give Diushebaev two standing counts in the latter stages of the bout. "Our plan was to play from left and play from afar.