India, Sept. 29 -- Indian boxer Ankush Panghal produced a stunning comeback to reach the men's 80kg final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Tuesday. The 21-year-old Haryana boxer overcame a slow start against Uzbekistan's reigning 75kg world champion Fazliddin Erkinboev before turning the contest around to secure a 4-1 split-decision victory. The result guarantees Ankush at least a silver medal and makes him the first Indian male boxer in eight years to reach an Asian Games final.

Ankush has been impressive throughout his debut Asian Games campaign, beginning with a 5-0 win over Bahrain's Hamsa Vogel before dispatching Tajikistan's Nekruz Salimov by the same scoreline in the quarterfinals. Against Erkinboev, he showed his ability to res...