Boxer Akhil Kumar scores patriotic win
Surprise package Akhil Kumar celebrated India's Independence Day by moving a win away from giving his country its first Olympic boxing medal on Friday.
After outboxing 2005 world silver medallist Ali Hallab of France in the first round, Kumar sent home Russia's world champion Sergey Vodopyanov, who was the favourite in the bantamweight class.
Boxing with his arms down and skilfully counter-punching, Kumar won on countback after the judges scored it 9-9.
After the verdict, he raised his arms up the air as if he had just won the gold while Vodopyanov burst into tears.
"Today is India's Independence Day and I have given a gift to the nation in the shape of this victory," Kumar told reporters.
The shaven-headed 27-year-old will face Moldova's Veaceslav Gojan in the quarter-finals and will make sure of at least a bronze if he wins.
"I don't want silver or bronze," he warned. "Gold is my only target."
The other big names in action, starting with Russia's Alexey Tishchenko, smoothly advanced to the last eight.
Tishchenko, trying to become the first boxer in nearly 30 years to win gold in two different weight classes, outboxed Australian Anthony Little.
The prolific 24-year-old, who won the featherweight title four years ago but has moved to lightweight, was much too fast and clever for Little, winning an 11-3 points decision.
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