Commonwealth Games 2014: Five Indian boxers reach semifinals

Vijender Singh fights Aaron Prince in the 75 kg quarterfinals

Glasgow, July 31 (IANS) Indian boxers Pinki Jangra, L. Sarita Devi, Devendro Singh, Mandeep Jangra and Vijender Singh reached the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Games in their respective categories at the SECC Hall on Wednesday. However, Amritpreet Singh bit the dust as he lost the men's 91 kg quarter-final bout to local pugilist Stephen Lavelle. The judges found the Scot to be better in all the three rounds to win with a scoreline of 29:28, 30:27 and 30:27.

Pinki started the proceedings with a dominating 4-0 win over Papua New Guinea's Jacquiline Wangi in the women's 48-51 kg quarterfinal. She will now face Northern Ireland's Michaela Walsh in the semis on Friday.

Sarita followed it up with a win in the women's 57-60 kg quarterfinal over Welsh Charlene Jones. Though the Welsh girl won the first round on points, Sarita came back well to win the next three rounds of two minutes each to clinch the contest 3-1. The Indian will play her last four bout on Friday against Mozambique's Maria Machongua.

Attacking Manipuri boxer Devendro then won his men's 49 kg last-eight bout, defeating Scottish Aqeel Ahmed 3-0. The 22-year-old notched up perfect scores of 30 from the judges in the last two rounds. Devendro will face Welsh Ashley Williams in the semis on Friday.

Mandeep Jangra was lucky to not even fight in the men's 69 kg quarterfinal as his Australian opponent Daniel Lewis gave him a walkover due to medical reasons. The Haryana pugilist will next take on Northern Ireland's Steven Donnelly.

To finish the day, Indian Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh also won his men's 75 kg quarterfinal bout against Aaron Prince of Trinidad and Tobago 3-0. The losing semifinalists in the discipline are assured of a bronze medal as the winners proceed to the gold medal final match.