NDTV

New Delhi, Aug 14: Indian boxer Sunil was crowned the new world champion in the 50 kg weight category in the World Cadet Boxing Championship held in Istanbul from August 4 to 13.

Sunil beat his taller Ajerbaijani competitor Agayev Ilkin 26-11 to win the title.

Sunil's Gold Medal at the World Championships has come as a shot in the arm for the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) as they were without a Medal in the World Cadet Championships since 2002.

Sunil started as an underdog but cheered by his compatriots and egged on by Chief Coach Mahendar Singh Dhaka, he found his groove right from the start of the first round.

Chief Coach Dhaka and the Turkish Coach Sefa Nar had clinically analysed the technique adopted by Agayev Ilkin in his earlier bouts and had advised Sunil to stay close to his opponent and keep attacking him.

Agayev was more comfortable by playing from long range and hence Sunil did not give him an opportunity to settle down.

Sunil attacked him with quick short jabs and straight punches to the body and face in rapid succession while Agayev was backpedalling to keep Sunil away and tried to hit him on the side of his body.

At the end of round one, Sunil led 13-8 on points.

In round two, Sunil went all out right from the word go. Agayev Ilkin made the blatant mistake of letting his guard down in trying to attack Sunil and score points and that was his downfall.

Sunil kept his cool and piled up a sizeable lead of 26-11 points and hence the bout was declared in his favour on a RSC(OS) (Referee Stops Contest (out scored)) verdict.

In the Cadet Category, when the difference of scores of the boxers is 15 points, the bout is stopped and the boxer who is leading is declared the Winner by RSC(OS).