Milan, Sep 9 (Inditop.com) Indian boxer Vijender Singh entered the quarter-finals of the World Championships, defeating Canadian Steve Rolls 4-2 in a keenly contested match.
In the pre-quarterfinal bout of 75 kg here Tuesday, Vijender lost the first round but fought back in the second, winning it 2-1. He cruised to a 3-1 lead in the third round but Rolls reduced the deficit to 3-2 points. But the Beijing Olympic bronze medallist boxer, egged on by the Indian supporters, consolidated the lead to 4-2 in the dying minutes.
Vijender now meets Sergiy Derevyanchenko of Ukraine Thursday. Derevyanchenko defeated Adem Killici of Turkey in the other pre-quarter-final match.
Vijender joins compatriot Dinesh Kumar (81 kg) in the last eight stage. Dinesh Tuesday beat Bejenaru Constantin of Romania and plays Artur Beterbiev of Russia here Thursday.
In the last World Championships held at Chicago in 2007, Anthresh Lakra in the 57 kg was the lone Indian to reach the quarterfinals.
rounak