Nanao wins gold at Youth World C'ship

Thokchom Nanao Singh continued his blazing form and stunned Cadet World Championship bronze medallist Grigoriy Nikolaychuk of Russia 15-5 to clinch the gold at the inaugural AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The Army boxer ended up being India's lone medallist in the event, where the team finished ninth overall with 15 points. Despite being tied on points with 10th-placed Uzbekistan, India finished ahead of the Central Asian country due to a slightly better points-per-boxer average of 2.1.

Nanao, a gold medallist at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune last month and a silver medallist at last year's Commonwealth Championships, took a vital one-point lead against his more fancied opponent in the opening round which ended 4-3 in the Indian's favour.

The 18-year-old then built on the advantage in the next two rounds, stretching the lead to 10-4 against the Russian Youth Champion, who could score just one point in the second and third rounds.

Nanao went for an all-out assault in the final round, scoring five points against his opponent's one to round off his campaign with yet another dominating display.

Cuba topped the medal tally with four gold, a silver and a bronze. The traditional boxing powerhouse finished the event with 40 points and a points-per-boxer average of 3.6.

Russia was a distant second with 32 points after winning one gold, three silver and a couple of bronze medals. The Russians had a points-per-boxer average of 2.9.

A total of 287 boxers from 58 countries in 11 weight categories competed in the Championship. India had sent a seven-member team for the event, six of which bowed out by the quarter-finals stage.