Incheon: Critics of a controversial decision to dispense with headguards in amateur boxing headguards were given more ammunition Monday when Pakistan's Muhammad Waseem claimed an Asian Games medal just seconds into his quarter-final.

Flyweight Waseem and Azat Usenaliev accidentally clashed heads moments after the starting bell with the Krygyzstan boxer suffering a nasty gash above his eye. Unable to continue, the referee had no option but to stop the fight with just 28 seconds gone and award Waseem a technical knockout win. Waseem advances to the semi-finals where he will face Uzbekistan's Shakhobidin Zoirov and is thus guaranteed a at least a bronze medal.