New Delhi, April 21: Eight Indian boxers, including seven women, stormed into the finals of the youth world championships in Kielce, Poland, an unprecedented achievement for the country in the marquee age group event.
Apart from the eight finalists, three others settled for bronze medals at the tournament, a performance which betters the 10 medals that India won in its best ever show not too long back in the 2018 edition in Hungary.
The ones who made the finals, to be held on Thursday after a rest day on Wednesday, were Gitika (48kg), Babyrojisana Chanu (51kg), Vinka (60kg), Arundhati Choudhary (69kg), Poonam (57kg), Thokchom Sanamachu Chanu (75kg) and Alfiya Pathan (+81kg) among women.
Among men, only Sachin (56kg) made the summit clash while three others signed off with bronze medals. Gitika defeated Italy’s Erika Prisciandaro 5-0 while Vinka prevailed 4-1 against Czech Republic’s Veronika Gajdova. Arundhati had little trouble getting past Uzbekistan’s Khadichabonu Abdullaeva in a unanimous 5-0 verdict.
Babyrojisana also notched up a similar result against Italy’s Elen Ayari. Manipur’s Babyrojisana is the reigning Asian youth champion. Poonam sailed past Uzbekistan’s Sitora Turdibekova 5-. Sanamacha clinched a 4-1 triumph over Poland’s Daria Parada.
Alfiya had a tough one against Poland’s Oliwia Toborek but the Indian did enough to prevail 3-2.
In the evening session, Sachin was the lone Indian to triumph, beating Italy’s Michele Baldassi. He will fight it out with Kazakhstan’s Yerbolat Sabyr for the top honours on Friday. Ankita Narwal (64kg), Bishwamita Chongthom (49kg) and Vishal Gupta (91kg) ended their campaigns. (PTI)
