Nagoya: Reigning Commonwealth Games champion Ankush Panghal guaranteed India their first boxing medal at the ongoing Asian Games after overcoming Tajikistan's Nekruz Salimov via a unanimous 5-0 decision in the men's 80kg quarter-finals at the Nishio Gymnasium on Sunday.

Ankush dictated terms for the majority of the three-round contest. He swept the opening two rounds unanimously before the Tajik boxer edged the third round, though it proved insufficient to alter the ultimate outcome.

The Commonwealth Games gold medallist sealed victory with four judges scoring the bout 29-28 in his favour and a fifth awarding a 30-27 verdict across the three rounds. Ankush controlled the initial two rounds, showcasing sharp hand speed, crisp combinations, and evasive movement as Salimov struggled to find answers.

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Ankush secured a clean 5-0 sweep in the first round by landing several right hooks and clean one-two combinations. He unleashed a forceful left hook in the second, utilising fluid footwork and counter-punching to earn another 5-0 ruling across all scorecards.

Salimov pressed forward aggressively in the final round in search of a decisive stoppage. Although he managed to land a few solid strikes on Ankush, the Indian pugilist maintained a tight defensive guard. Salimov claimed the third round 4-1, but Ankush took the overall victory comfortably.

Earlier in the day, Indian competitors suffered early exits in the Kurash events. Vishal bowed out in the men’s +90kg quarter-finals following a 5-0 defeat to Thailand's Kunathip Yea-On.

In the women's -57kg category, Sangita Balhara lost 10-0 to Charmea Quelino of the Philippines in the round of 32, while Bharti fell to Iran's Tahereh Azarpeivand in the round of 16. In the men's +90kg round of 16, Yash Kumar Chauhan suffered a 10-0 defeat against Tajikistan’s Shakarmamad Mirmamadov.

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Meanwhile, on the athletics track and field, Indian decathlete Tejaswin Shankar dropped to third place following seven events. Tejaswin holds 5,869 points with three disciplines remaining, leaving him 50 points adrift of leader Chen Xinghua and 45 points behind second-placed Yuma Maruyama of Japan.

IANS