Sunil Kumar asserted his supremacy by winning only the second gold medal ever for the country at the World Cadet Boxing Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.
Sunil upset Agayev Ilkin of Azerbaijan, the bronze medal winner at the European Championships, by Referee Stops Contest - Out Scored (RSC - OS) in the final of the 50 kg class in the tournament that concluded on Sunday.
Balbir Singh had last won the gold in the 48 kg division in 2001 in the second edition of the tournament. Indian colts have not won a medal at world level since then.
The unfancied Indian, who had prepared well by studying his taller opponent's movements in detail ahead of the bout, led 13:8 in the first round of their encounter.
Chief coach Mahendra Singh Dhaka and the new Turkish coach Sefa Nar had clinically analysed Ilkin in his earlier bouts. They advised Sunil to stay close to Agayev and keep attacking him as the Azeri was more comfortable playing from long range.
Sunil attacked him with quick short jabs and straight punches to the body and face in rapid succession while Agayev was backpedalling to keep the Indian away and tried to hit him on the side of his body.
Ilkin made a blatant mistake of letting his guard down in trying to attack Sunil and score points and that was his downfall.
Sunil was a combination of aggression and intelligence personified as he kept his cool and piled up a sizeable lead of 26:11 points.
For cadets, if the difference of scores between the two boxers is 15 points, the bout is stopped and the leading player is declared winner by Referee Stops Contest - Out Scored.
