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New Delhi: Indian boxers packed a powerful punch as Commonwealth Games medalists Manoj Kumar (64kg) and Jai Bhagwan (60kg), along with rookie teen sensation L Devendro Singh, qualified for the London Olympics by advancing to the World Championships` quarter-finals with contrasting wins in Baku, Azerbaijan on Tuesday.
While Manoj rallied to defeat China`s Qing Hu 17-15, 19-year-old Devendro continued his giant-killing spree by beating seventh seed Carlos Quipo of Ecuador 18-12 in another impressive performance. In the evening session, Jai Bhagwan defeated seventh seed David Joyce of Ireland 32-30 in a nail-biting battle.
The trio clenched their berths for the London Olympiad becoming the first lot of Indian boxers to qualify for the mega-event.
Top 10 boxers (from 49kg to 81kg) at this event will make the Olympic cut while boxers in the 91kg and 91-plus kg category will have to finish among the top-six to book their tickets for London.
But, there was some disappointment too for India as Asian Games silver-medalist and 12th seed Dinesh Kumar bowed out with a 7-16 loss to CWG gold-medalist Damien Hooper of Australia.
