It was double delight for Akhil Kumar. A day after he sealed his Beijing Olympics berth, the bantamweight pugilist created history by winning gold in the 54kg bout after he beat local favourite and Athens Olympics silver medallist Worapoj Petchkoom 21-11 in the Asian Olympic Boxing qualifying tournament.The icing on the cake, however, was being adjuged the Best Boxer of the Championship tonight.

The impressive margin of victory said it all.

The Indian, gaining in confidence since winning the Olympic berth, was writ large on his face when he took on the experienced Thai. Not to be deterred by the partisan crowd which constantly rooted for the local hero, the Indian connected his punches well right from the word go.

This victory is all the more creditable because Akhil did not participate in the first Olympic qualifying tournament at Chicago in October 2007 due to a wrist injury.