New Delhi, March 22: Tournament favourites Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain lived up to expectations as they secured medals for India with quarterfinal wins, alongside two other home boxers at the ongoing Women’s Boxing World Championships here on Wednesday.
Competing in new weight classes, reigning champion Nikhat (50kg) eked out a 5-2 win over Thailand’s Chuthamat Raksat to secure her second world’s medal and then Lovlina (75kg) added a third medal in her kitty with a 5-0 win over Adosinda Rady Gramane of Mozambique.
Apart from the duo, Commonwealth Games champion Nitu Ghanghas (48kg) and the seasoned Saweety Boora (81kg) also moved to the semi-finals.
For India, however, it was a roller coaster day as four pugilists – Sakshi Choudhary (52kg), last edition’s bronze medallist Manisha Moun (57kg), CWG bronze medallist Jaismine Lamboria (60kg) and Nupur Sheoran (+81kg) failed to move to the last four stage.
While Sakshi lost to Yu Wu of China 0-5, Manisha was outplayed by a 1-4 margin by Amina Zidani of France.
Like last year, Jaismine faltered in the quarterfinal stage once again, falling 0-5 to Colombia’s Paola Valdez. Nupur went down fighting to Lazzat Kungeibayeva of Kazakhstan 3-4 after a bout review. (PTI)
