India's top boxer Vikas Krishnan moved into the quarterfinals of the men's welter weight (69 kg) category of the Olympic Games by prevailing over Errol Spence of USA at the Excel Arena late on Friday night.
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The 20-year-old Krishan kept himself in medal reckoning by scripting a hard-fought 13-11 victory over Spence in a thrilling pre-quarter finals contest.
With a vociferous crowd spurring him on, the third-seeded Vikas took early control of the bout with a fine blend of aggression and defence to win the first round 4-2.
But his American opponent bounced back brilliantly to clinch the second round 6-5, capitalising on some lapses by the Indian who suddenly seemed to go on the backfoot.
In the crucial third round, Vikas was a little more aggressive and eventually tilted the balance in his favour by pocketing the third round 4-3.
Krishan, only the second Indian boxer after Vijender to fetch a bronze medal in the world championship, will take on Andrey Zamkovoy of Russia in the quarterfinals.
Photograph: Patrick Semansky/ AP Photo