Four Indian boxers – Nikhat Zareen, Nitu Ghanghas, Manisha Moun and Jaismine Lamboria – advanced to the quarterfinals of the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi on Tuesday.
This comes one day after Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), Sakshi Choudhary (52kg), Nupur Sheoran (+81kg) and Saweety Boora (81kg). secured their place in the quarterfinals.
Defending champion Nikhat outpointed Mexico’s Fátima Herrera to win by unanimous verdict in the 50kg pre-quarterfinals. Nikhat made an aggressive start and controlled the pace of the fight.
“I still have some fatigue from my last round as it was against the top seed. It was tough and her punches landed pretty well so my neck was a little tight and my body a little slow compared to my last fight. But I’m happy that I won unanimously this time,” he said.
“In my boxing career, this is the first contest where I’ll play six fights because I didn’t get a seed, but I’m not focusing on that,” said Nikhat, who will next face Chuthamat Rakshat of Thailand in the quarterfinals.
Jaismine also put in a strong performance to secure a 5-0 win against Tajikistan’s Mijgona Samadova in the 60kg last 16 bout. This came shortly after Nitu (48kg) and Manisha gave India a perfect start as they both won their bouts via RSC (Referee Stops Contest).
While Nitu, the 2022 Commonwealth Games champion, needed just over two minutes to beat Tajikistan’s Sumaiya Qosimova, Turkey’s Manisha and Nur Turhan traded heavy blows during an intense 57kg bout. However, Manisha, who won bronze in the last edition, switched gears to take charge before sealing victory. She will then face the French boxer Amina Zidani, while Nitu will face the Japanese Madoka Wada.
Effortlessly nitu ��
Glimpses of Nitu from today’s Pre-quarter fight ����
Book your tickets now ��:https://t.co/k8OoHXoAr8@AjaySingh_SG I @debojo_m#it’s time #WWCHDelhi #World Championships @IBA_Boxing @Media_SAI @paytminsider @NituGhanghas333 pic.twitter.com/mSMFmgSRNQ
– Boxing Federation (@BFI_official) March 21, 2023
Meanwhile, Shashi Chopra (63kg) and Manju Bamboriya (66kg) lost their respective bouts leading up to the quarterfinals. Shahsi lost to Japan’s Mai Kito (0-4), while Manju was beaten by reigning Asian champion Uzbekistan Navbakhor Khamidova (0-5).
In the biggest upset of the day, Venezuela’s Omailyn Alcalá stunned former world champion and Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Nesthy Petecio of the Philippines with a thrilling 4-3 victory in a close contest in the women’s category. 57 kg.
Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Irma Testa (57kg) had an easy way out by pulling off a comfortable 5-0 win against Vietnamese Hao Nguyen Thi in their 57kg round of 16 bout.
