New Delhi: India boxer Mohammad Hussamuddin suffered defeat against the defending champion and top-ranked Mirazizbek Mirzahalilov in the men’s 56kg category quarter-finals at the 2021 ASBC Asian Boxing Championships in Dubai on Tuesday.

In the men’s 56kg last-8 bout, the reigning World champion Mirzahalilov began the game with an aggressive intent and saw landing solid punches. Hussamuddin however tried to get momentum with an impressive defence and counter-attacking punches but the seasoned Uzbek did not hand the Indian boxer any chance of bouncing back before sealing a 4-1 win in the close-fought contest.

Third day of the high profile event, which is also jointly hosted by the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) along with the UAE Boxing Federation, will have India’s Olympic-bound male boxers Amit Panghal, Vikas Krishan and Ashish Kumar starting their campaign along with two other pugilists in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Defending champion and the World Championships silver medallist Panghal will face a solid challenge from Kharkhuu Enkhmandakh in the 52 kg bout. When the two last encountered at the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Amman, Jordan last year, the Mongolian pugilist had put up a tough contest before the Indian managed to notch up a win. The Asian Games champion Vikas Krishan will take on Iran’s Moslem Malamir in 69kg.

Ashish Kumar (75kg), who bagged the silver medal in the last edition of the Championships, and Narender (+91kg) will also take on powerful opponents from Kazakhstan. While Ashish will challenge World Championships and Asian Games silver medallist Abilkhan Amankul, Narender is all set to contest against the two-time world championships silver medal winner Kamshybek Kunkabayev, who is also hunting for his third consecutive medal at the Asian Championships.

Varinder Singh (60kg) , the Current national champion from Punjab is the other Indian boxer who will be looking forward to securing a medal for the nation as he will be up against Jere Cruz of Philippines in lightweight last-8 bout.

In the 81kg opening round bout contested late in the night on Monday, Sumit Sangwan faced a 5-0 loss against Meysam Gheshlaghi of Iran.