Anurag Kumar
As they prepare to compete in the semi-finals of the IBA Men’s World Boxing Championship 2023 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Friday, star Indian boxers Deepak Kumar, Mohammed Hussamuddin, and Nishant Dev will attempt to win the country’s first-ever gold medal.
India, with three confirmed medals, is tied for fourth place in the medals tally at the prestigious tournament, behind hosts Uzbekistan (9), Cuba and Russia (6 each), and Kazakhstan (5).
Silver medalist at the 2019 Asian Championships Deepak Kumar (51kg) will head India’s charge for the gold when he faces the two-time bronze medalist at the World Championships, France’s Billal Bennama.
In his second World Championships appearance, the 26-year-old Indian has recorded three wins by unanimous decision and defeated the bronze medalist from the Tokyo Olympics, Kazakhstan’s Saken Bibossanov, in the Round of 32.
Deepak will give his all to reach the final, where he will face either Olympic gold medalist Hasanboy Dusmatov or incumbent European champion Martin Molina of Spain. Deepak is hoping to maintain his stellar form.
Mohammed Hussamuddin (57kg) will enter the arena against Cuba’s Saidel Horta with the goal of advancing to the tournament’s final in his first World Championships appearance.
The two-time bronze medalist at the Commonwealth Games has elevated his performance to the utmost level to win all of his matches thus far.
Hussamuddin, a veteran competitor from Telangana, could face 2021 World Championships silver medalist Abdumalik Khalokov of Uzbekistan or Munarbek Seitbek-Uulu of Kyrgyzstan if he advances to the championship match.
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One of India’s up-and-coming boxers, Nishant Dev (71kg), will face the defending Asian champion, Aslanbek Shymbergenov (Kazakhstan), in the semi-finals. Nishant Dev’s quarterfinal finish at the last World Championships guarantees him a medal at the current competition.
The boxer from Karnal has demonstrated his superior skill through his world-class performances by earning three wins by unanimous decision and one by the referee halting the fight (RSC) to date.
The 22-year-old will be determined to advance to the finals and compete against either the two-time Asian champion Saidjamshid Jafarov of Uzbekistan or the 2018 South American champion Wanderson de Oliveria of Brazil.
538 boxers from 107 countries, including a number of Olympic medalists, are participating in the ongoing competition. The gold medalists will receive USD 200,000 in prize money, the silver medalists will receive USD 100,000, and the bronze medalists will each receive USD 50,000.
