New Delhi, Feb 23: Nandini (+81kg) assured India of its first medal at the ongoing 73rd Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria by advancing to the semifinals with a dominating win over Kazakhstan’s Valeriya Axenova in the last-eight stage.
Nandini was in complete command of the proceedings when the referee stopped the contest in the third round.
She will square off against another Kazakh Lazzat Kungeibayeva in the semifinals. Kungeibayeva is a former world champion.
Advancing to the quarterfinal stage were youth world champion Arundhati Choudhary (70kg) and Parveen (63kg). Choudhary prevailed 3-0 against Germany’s Melissa Gemini, while Parveen out-punched Kazakhstan’s Aida Abikeyeva 5-0.
However, India’s Meena Rani (60kg), Anjali Tushir (66kg), Saweety (75kg) and Sachin Kumar (80kg) lost their respective bouts. Rani was beaten 2-3 by Russia’s Nune Asatrian. Anjali was bested by Russian Saadat Dalgatova 0-5. Saweety lost 0-5 to Davina Michel of France. (PTI)
