Suranjoy, Amandeep assure India of boxing medals at Commonwealth

Asian champion Suranjoy Singh (52kg) and Amandeep Singh (49kg) assured India of at least two medals in the boxing competition in the Commonwealth Games by advancing to the semifinals with contrasting wins in New Delhi today.Continuing their unbeaten run at the ongoing event, the Indian boxers in Amandeep and Suranjoy defeated Muhammad Fuad and Mohammad Subrie -- both from Malaysia -- respectively to assure themselves of their maiden medals in the Games.While Amandeep won 7-1 against Fuad, Suranjoy beat Surie 9-2.Amandeep will now face Ireland's Paddy Barnes, who beat Australian Andrew Moloney 5-3 in a tense quarterfinal bout.Suranjoy, on the other hand, has set up an India-Pakistan match against Haroon Iqbal. The Britain-based Iqbal, who is representing Pakistan after failing to get the nod for the English team, was tied 3-3 with Welshman Andrew Selby after the regulation three rounds but won the bout on countback."I am very happy to have assured myself of my first Commonwealth Games medal but the task would not be complete till I get the gold," Amandeep, a Commonwealth Championship gold medallist, said after his bout.Interestingly, Amandeep had defeated Fuad by exactly the same margin in the semifinals of the Commonwealth championships held here earlier this year.The encounter today had its fair share of drama after the initial lull, during which the first round ended 0-0. More than half of Amandeep's points came because of Fuad's recklessness. Fuad was warned twice in the bout for ducking and ending up head-butting Amandeep in the process."That is why it became difficult to connect punches because he was ducking too much," said Amandeep.Suranjoy was the second Indian to take the ring in the session and he did not disappoint either. The Manipuri, who has won six gold medals in the past one year, remained on course for a seventh after rallying to get the better of Subrie.The Indian trailed 0-1 in the opening few seconds of the first round but more than made up once he got his rhythm against a pricky opponent. "I won't be happy till I get the gold. Being in the semifinals is fine but there is more to conquer," said Suranjoy.The gold medallist from the inter-continental President's Cup last year, Suranjoy's energy, which never seems to diminish, proved to be decisive in the bout. The diminutive boxer said it was not all that tough after he figured out his rival's gameplan."Once I got a hang of how he plays, it was not too tough for me," the 24-year-old said.