Indian ace boxer Nikhat Zareen along with Nitu Ghanghas, Manisha Moun and Jasmine have progressed through to the quarterfinals in the Women’s World Championships at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi.
India’s primary hope Nikhat Zareen continued her winning run as defeated Mexico’s Fatima Herrera by a unanimous decision in the 50kg category to make her way to the quarterfinals. Nikhat was aggressive right from the start and never allow her opponent an inch in the ring.
Despite the win, Nikhat highlighted that due to change in her weight category from 52kg to 50kg she still needs to work on a few things. She highlighted that her speed has increased and it is helping her get the edge over opponents.
The Telengana based boxer with be up against Thai boxer Chuthamat Rakshat in the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Championships.
Next up Jasmine also showed great heart as she put up a dominant 5-0 win over her opponent Mijgona Samadova of Tajikistan in the 60kg category and has progressed to the last eight.
Later the likes of Nitu Ghanghas and Manisha Moun also gave the fans a lot to cheer for as they won their respective bouts.
Commonwealth Games Gold medallist Nitu was off to a cautious start but when she found her rhythm she took less than six minutes to force the referee to stop play against Tajikistan’s Sumaiya Qosimova.
Manisha Moun also replicated a similar win as she outpunched her opponent Turkey’s NurTurhan in the 57kg category. Manisha will next face French pugilist Amina Zidani while Nitu will go head to head against Japan’s Madoka Wada.
There were a couple of disappointments aswell as Shashi Chopra (63kg) and Manju Bombariya (66kg) lost their respective bouts and bowed out of the event. Shashi lost to Japan’s Mai Kito (0-4) whereas Manju went down against Uzbekistan’s reigning Asian champion Navbakhor Khamidova (0-5).
Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), Sakshi Choudhary (52kg), Nupur Sheoran (+81kg) and Saweety Boora (81kg) are the other Indian pugilists who have made it to the quarterfinals of the prestigious event. Fans are hoping to see multiple gold medals from the talented bunch but hopes rely mostly on the likes of Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain.
