Indian boxer Mohammad Hussamudin signed off with a bronze medal at the World Championships after a knee injury forced him to withdraw from his semifinal bout here on Friday. The 29-year-old from Nizamabad sustained a knee injury in his quarterfinal bout against J. Diaz Ibanez of Bulgaria.
“Hussamuddin gives up due to injury and settles for bronze. He sustained a knee injury during his QF bout and was advised not to compete further,” the boxing federation of India said in a statement. Hussamudin, who was competing in his debut World Championships, was scheduled to face Cuba’s Saidel Horta in the last four clashes.
However, India’s other two boxers will be in action later today in their semifinal bouts.
The 2019 Asian silver medalist Deepak Kumar (51kg) will lead India’s charge for the gold when he takes on the two-time World bronze medalist Billal Bennama of France in his semi-final bout. The 26-year-old Indian has had a scintillating campaign in his second World Championships appearance so far, recording three wins by unanimous decisions and also toppling Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Saken Bibossinov of Kazakhstan in the Round of 32.
Looking to maintain his stellar form, Deepak will be giving it his all to reach the final, where he will either face Rio Olympics gold medalist Hasanboy Dusmatov or reigning European champion Martin Molina of Spain.
One of India’s upcoming pugilists, Nishant Dev (71kg), who converted his quarter-final finish at the last World Championships into a guaranteed medal at the current edition, will square off against the reigning Asian champion Aslanbek Shymbergenov of Kazakhstan in the semi-finals. The Karnal-born pugilist has displayed his supreme ability through his world-class performances, notching three wins by unanimous decisions and one by the referee stopping the contest (RSC) so far.
