Zeenews Sports Bureau

London: Indian pugilist Vijender Singh lost his quarterfinal bout against Abbos Atoev of Uzbekistan 13-17 to crash out of London Olympics 2012. After Round 1 both the boxers were tied 3-3 but in the second Abbos took a two point lead and third round saw Abbos extending his lead to 4 points winning the round 5-7.

Vijender was not aggressive nor tactical as he had been in the last two matches.

Having being beaten by Vijender 7-0 in the final of the 2010 Asian Games, the Uzbek was determined to take revenge this time.

The two boxers took time to measure up to each other in the first round that finished at 3-3.

The crowd was completely behind the Indian as chants of “jitega jitega India jitega” reverberated at the ExCel Arena.

In the second round, the Indian was slow off the blocks that allowed Atoev to take a two point lead by winning the round 7-5. Atoev’s made his flurry of punches count and Vijender also hit back with an upper cut that disbalanced the Uzbek.

The Uzbek was more tactial in the second round that helped him to strecth his lead. Vijender with his left-hook tried to get inside Atoev’s defence but luck was simply not on his side.

In the third and the final round, Atoev displayed some lovely defensive skills as Vijender ran out of steam.

Vijender gots his left hooks going but Atoev didn’t privde easy opportunities. The Uzbek danced down the ring and scored his points off the counter attack, dashing Vijender’s hopes of a second Olympic medal.

(With IANS inputs)