A L Lakra became the first Indian pugilist to qualify for next year's Beijing [Images] Olympics [Images] after he defeated European silver medallist Shahin Imranov to advance to the quarterfinals of the World Boxing Championships in Chicago.

The Commonwealth champion beat Azerbaijan's Imranov 15-9 in the pre-quarterfinals of featherweight category at the University of Chicago's UIC Pavilion to make the cut for Beijing next year.

He now runs into Chinese Yang Li, who defeated Brazil [Images]ian Davi Souza of Brazil 13-4, in Thursday's last-eight stage bout.

• Images: Beijing 2008 - The Countdown begins

After Lakra's Beijing qualification, an elated Indian coach Gurbaksh Singh Sandhu was all praise for the Services boxer and hoped that two remaining Indians in the fray -- Jitender (51kg) and Jai Bhagwan (60kg) -- would also come through.

"This is an amazing achievement. We are all very happy and proud of what he has done. I am very confident about Jitender and Bhagwan as well and hopefully they would also advance to the quarters," Sandhu said.

• Images: Beijing 2008 - Not quite People's Olympics

It was a dominating performance by the Indian, who opened with a two-point lead before extending it to four by the end of the third round.

Lakra garnered four more points against Imranov's two in the final round to romp home comfortably.

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Meanwhile, Jitender takes on Russian Georgy Balakshin in the pre-quarterfinals, while Bhagwan would be up against Colombian Darley Perez later today.

India had sent an eight-member team for the Championships but five of them -- including Asian Games bronze medallist Vijender (75kg) -- crashed out in the second round.