Last Updated: March 22, 2023, 21:56 IST
Lovlina Borgohainand Nikhat Zareen on the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships (BFI)
Lovlina Borgohain, Nitu Ghanghas, Nikhat Zareen and Saweety Boora booked their place within the semi-finals of the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships to substantiate 4 medals for India
Riding on spectacular performances, star Indian pugilists Lovlina Borgohain, Nitu Ghanghas, Nikhat Zareen and Saweety Boora registered thumping victories to substantiate 4 medals for the hosts on the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships by advancing to the semi-finals on the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex within the nationwide capital on Wednesday.
Continuing her wealthy vein of kind, Lovlina (75kg) added a 3rd World Championships medal to her kitty with an emphatic 5-0 win towards final yr’s World Championships bronze medallist Rady Gramane of Mozambique. The 25 yr outdated Indian performed on the prime of her sport and displayed a spectacular mixture of assault and defence to ship her opponent packing by unanimous choice.
“The coaches had told me how to play today and it worked successfully as I was able to fight well. I feel comfortable in this weight category and I have adapted to it well with my performances in competitions going well. Today’s medal is very important for me but I don’t want to settle for bronze as it is going to be crucial for the upcoming Asian Games as well,” stated Lovlina after the bout.
Lovlina will take to the ring for a excessive profile conflict towards the 2018 World Champion and two-time Olympics medallist Li Qian of China within the semi-finals.
Earlier within the day, the 2022 Commonwealth Games champion Nitu (48kg) made it a hat trick of Referee Stops Contest (RSC) wins after securing a scintillating win towards the two-time Worlds bronze medallist Madoka Wada of Japan with the RSC verdict within the second spherical of the bout. With an attacking method from the phrase go, the 22 yr outdated hardly needed to break a sweat towards the veteran Japenese and was in full management of the bout.
“I have been able to apply 100% apply of my practice in the ring so far and going into the next match I feel good I have won all my three bouts by RSC. She (Madoka) is a southpaw just like me and as this was my first time in the tournament facing a southpaw, I had to pay complete attention and attack. I was on the counter from the first round but I feel like I should have played a bit more attacking and I will try to do that in my next bout. (After the defeat in last edition’s quarters) I felt that since is the tournament happening in India this year with the home support constantly backing us, I won’t let the medal slip away this time,” stated Nitu after the bout.
The Indian will now tackle the reigning Asian champion and final yr’s World Championships silver medallist Alua Balkibekova of Kazakhstan in what will likely be a rematch of final yr’s World Championships quarter finals.
Following Nitu’s victory, Nikhat (50kg) efficiently continued her title defence by recording a hard-fought 5-2 win on factors after the bout was reviewed towards the two-time World Championships bronze medallist Chuthamat Raksat of Thailand. Both pugilists had been on the prime of their sport and gave it their all to emerge victorious on this bout that went proper down the wire. However it was the 26 yr outdated Indian who utilized her superior technical skill to edge out her Thai opponent and are available out on prime with the win.
“Yes, immediately’s bout was aggravating however I gained by a cut up choice so I’m actually glad that I secured a medal for my nation, and going ahead I’ll win the gold medal too. My technique immediately was to win within the first 2 rounds after which mess around within the final. I gained the two rounds however from 3:2 in every so within the final spherical, I aimed to play from an extended vary however there was a whole lot of clinching so my physique received a bit of drained. All the bouts I’ve had until now had been highly effective however for me, it’s been expertise to maintain transferring ahead and defeating them so hopefully I’ll maintain transferring ahead like this and combat for my nation.” stated Nikhat after the bout.
Nikhat will face Rio Olympics bronze medallist Ingrit Valencia of Colombia in the semi-finals.
Contrary to Nikhat, the three-time Asian medallist Saweety (81kg) recorded a dominating 5-0 win against the 2018 World Championships bronze medallist Viktoria Kebikava of Belarus. In what was her first match of the tournament, the experienced pugilist from Haryana was extremely confident throughout the bout and landed strong, accurate punches to seal the win. She will be going up against Emma-Sue Greentree of Australia in her next bout.
Having secured four medals, India have bettered their record from the previous World Championships edition where they had clinched three medals.
Meanwhile, the two-time World Youth champion Sakshi Chaudhary (52kg), the 2022 World Championships bronze medallists Manisha Moun (57kg) and Jaismine Lamboria (60kg) as well as Nupur Sheoran (+81kg) went down fighting in the quarter finals despite their best efforts.
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