Boxing Men's World Championships: Akash Kumar, Narender Berwal through to quarter-finals

Belgrade: Indian boxers Akash Kumar (54kg) and Narender Berwal (+92kg) advanced to the quarter-finals of the AIBA Men's World Championships on Sunday, notching up contrasting but exhilarating victories against their respective opponents.While Akash staved off a stiff challenge from Puerto Rico's Caleb Tirado to clinch it 5-0, Narender 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.Later in the evening, Nishant Dev (71kg) will be up against Mexico's Alvarez Verde in the last-16 round.Also tonight, Asian champion Sanjeet (92kg) will take on Georgia's Giorgi Tchigladze.Altogether 10 Indian boxers have made the pre-quarters. Of these, Govind Sahani (48kg) was ousted on Saturday.