CWG 2022: Boxers Amit Panghal, Mohammad Hussamuddin & Ashish Kumar cruise into quarters

Commonwealth Games with a facile win as he stormed into the men's flyweight (51kg) quarterfinals on Monday. Panghal, a world championship silver medallist, out-punched Namri Berri of Vanuatu via a unanimous verdict. Featherweight boxer Mohammad Hussamuddin made it two out of two as he also advanced to the quarterfinals with a similar 5-0 win over Mohammad Salim Hossain of Bangladesh in the round of 16.

Later in the day, light heavyweight boxer Ashish Kumar (80kg) produced a dominating show to also move to the last eight with a 5-0 unanimous decision win over Travis Tapatuetoa of Niue. Panghal, who is participating in his first big tournament after the disappointing show at the Tokyo Olympics, looked in control throughout the three rounds. He used his combination of right and left punches effectively and fought from a distance, compelling Berri to come forward and attack.

Panghal was quick to land a flurry of punches in each of the three rounds as Berri was no match for the Indian. With the opening two rounds going in his favour, Panghal was content with defending in the final three minutes, saving his energy for the tougher challenges ahead. He is now one win away from securing his second CWG medal.

In the last edition in Gold Coast he had clinched a silver. He will face 20-year-old Lennon Mulligan of Scotland. "It was a good workout but it was easy.

My opponent was good but never gave me any problems," Panghal said after his win. "I could have stepped it up but there is a long way to go and I am here for gold. I won silver at Gold Coast and I am here to go one better.

"I am only interested in the gold medal. That's why I took it on points, to get a good bit of work in the ring," he added. Last edition's bronze