Hussamuddin’s Success at 2023 Men’s World Boxing Championships Marks a New Era for Indian Boxing

On May 7, 2023, Sunday, Indian boxer Deepak stunned the Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist and 2021 World Champion Saken Bibossinov in the 51kg category at the Men’s World Boxing Championships to reach the pre-quarterfinals. The Indian boxer started the bout slowly and took some time to get into his rhythm, and Bibossinov used that to his advantage to land some punches. Despite trailing 2-3 at the end of the first round, Deepak ended it strongly, hitting his opponent with a flurry of punches. At the end of the second round also, Deepak remained in deficit before mounting a great comeback in the final round.

Deepak picked up the pace, moved around swiftly, and hit his opponent with some hard blows. He evaded the Kazakh boxer’s punches consistently and impressed the judges to win by 5-2 after the decision went to a bout review. With this phenomenal performance, Deepak has advanced to the pre-quarterfinals and will face Zhang Jiamao of China in his next bout. His excellent skills, patience, and smart strategy have paid off well, and he is focused on winning his next fight.

“My target was to play with patience since the start of the bout and gather as many points as I can. The first two rounds were tough but I was focused on not losing my patience and waiting for the right moment to attack. Coaches had told me to lure my opponent with the right punch before using my left hook to good effect. It worked as I connect a lot of left hooks to get points. Every bout is important for me, and I play every match like it’s a final match for me. I am focused on winning my next bout now,” said Deepak after the victory.

In the 57kg category, Mohammed Hussamuddin also registered a stunning victory, advancing to the quarterfinals. He faced Russia’s Eduard Savvin in the pre-quarters and dominated the bout from the start, never giving his opponent a chance. Hussamuddin was quicker than his Russian opponent in the second round as well, and in the third round, he kept on counter-punching smartly to register a 5-0 win.

However, two other Indians, Sumit (75kg) and Narender Berwal (92+kg), did not fare well in their respective bouts and bowed out of the tournament.

This victory for Deepak is significant for Indian boxing as he defeated a Tokyo Olympic medalist and a World Champion. It fills the Indian boxing fans and the country with joy and pride. Indian boxers have been improving and showcasing their skills at the international level, which is a positive sign for the sport’s future in the country. While excitement and happiness surround this victory, there is a need to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and training that these boxers put in to achieve such heights of success.

Deepak’s and Hussamuddin‘s success should motivate the young boxers in the country to train hard, persevere, and pursue their dreams, never giving up. While boxing has always been a popular sport in India, these individuals’ success stories can motivate more youth to take up the sport and excel in it. Overall, their success is a testament to the fact that with focus, dedication, and discipline, one can achieve great heights and make their country proud.