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GUTSY PERFORMANCE: India’s Jitender Kumar fought with heart to win his bout against Uzbekistan’s Tulashboy Doniyorov on Saturday.

BEIJING: The Indian boxers look like they will live up to their promise of landing a medal in the Olympic Games, as Vijender Kumar and Jitender Kumar made the quarterfinals of their respective categories, at the Worker’s Gymnasium here on Saturday.

With three in the quarterfinals — Akhil Kumar made the grade on Friday — and all needing just a win to ensure a medal, it looks like India has a healthy chance to add to its maiden individual Olympic gold won by air rifle shooter Abhinav Bindra on the third day of competition.

Easy win

Vijender, the Asian Games bronze medallist, was the last to advance, in the last bout of the day outclassing Angikhan Comphuphuang of Thailand 13-3 in the 75 kg middleweight class.

Off to a steady start with a 2-0 lead in the first round, the tall Vijender enhanced the lead to 6-1 by the end of the second round. He was right on top at 10-1 in the third, before Comphuphuang, scored two points to the three by the Indian in the last round.

In the quarterfinals, Vijender will face Carlos Gongora of Ecuador who out-punched Georgios Gazis of Greece 12-1.

Spirited fight

Earlier in the afternoon session, Jitender Kumar put up a spirited fight to overwhelm Tulashboy Doniyorov of Uzbekistan 13-6 in the pre-quarterfinals of the flyweight section.

Showing good technique and strong footwork, the 20-year-old Jitender punched holes in the defence of the Uzbek pugilist, who looked keener on a wrestling bout, often holding and bringing down his opponent.

Good start

After a good start when he built up a 4-1 lead by the first round with sharp straight punches and the uppercuts aimed at the body, Jitender had pulled ahead to 5-1 by the end of the second round.

The referee warned the Uzbek for holding, and that fetched two penalty points for Jitender for a healthy 8-1 lead. He made it 11-2, before Doniyorov, a quarterfinalist in the last World championship, improved his position with a few points — including two penalty points against Jitender for head-butting.

Energetic fighting

Demonstrating considerable reserves of energy and the will to keep fighting rather than back-pedal, Jitender added two more points to emerge a confident winner.

In the quarterfinals, Jitender will be challenged by Georgy Balakshin of Russia who beat Mirat Sarsembayev of Kazakhstan 12-4, for his second successive quarterfinals in the Olympics.

Coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu observed that the fight was more against the computer, and it was important to stick to the scoring and stay away from an opponent who was tending to hold and spoil the rhythm.