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Vikas Krishan Yadav, the JSW-supported boxer, settled for silver in the middleweight category after losing to Uzbekistan’s Bektemir Melikuziev in the final at the Asian Boxing Championship in Bangkok on Saturday evening.
In a very close bout, Vikas put up a spirited show but his Uzbek opponent’s aggression in the first round combined with a strong finish ensured that the 23-year-old Vikas finished with the silver medal at the continental competition.The Southpaw is the only Indian boxer to have won a silver medal in the competition and has already managed to qualify for October’s World Boxing Championships.
Melikuziev, the 19-year-old 2014 Youth Olympics gold medalist, wasted little time in the first round, serving up a range of attacks. Vikas, who took his time to find his feet, replied but Melikuziev’s early burst allowed him to pull ahead, taking the round 30-27.
“He began really fast and in very aggressive fashion. I just took a little time to settle in but I think I conceded a few points then. I found my rhythm and I attacked him well at the end of the round but I guess that wasn’t enough,” said Vikas.
In the second round, a determined Vikas unleashed a volley of concerted attacks on Melikuziev, pushing the Uzbek on to the back foot. The strategy seemed to have worked as the 19-year-old seemed rattled and Vikas was deservedly awarded the second round 29-28.
In the decider, both boxers looked like they had thrown caution to the winds, rolling out aggressive combinations. Vikas managed to land two big right-hooks but a great recovery from Melikuziev in the final 25 seconds saw the Uzbek pick up some important points which ultimately proved to be crucial.
“It was a good tough bout. I think I did well to come back into the fight with a strong second round. In the third round, both of us were going hard. I landed some clear punches but perhaps I should have been more tighter in the closing stages,” said a disappointed Vikas.
