Women’s World Boxing Championship: Indian boxers Nikhat Zareen, Nitu Ghanghas, and Manisha Moun continued their impressive performance at the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships on Tuesday by winning convincingly at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi to advance into the quarterfinals. At the 50 kg pre-quarterfinals, the defending champion Nikhat easily outpunched Mexican fighter Fatima Herrera by unanimous decision.
The Indian emerged as a combative standout who attacked right away and moved swiftly.
Herrera made every effort to change the tide in her favour, but Nikhat’s unrelenting assault proved to be too powerful. In the quarterfinals, Nikhat will face Thai boxer Chuthamat Rakshat.
“At the most recent World Championships, I too faced this boxer and prevailed. She was a little more resilient than the previous day. Although my speed has improved and my weight category has moved from 52 to 50kg, I still have certain things to improve. I’m pleased with how well I performed today. Each opponent I have faced so far has been challenging, “After the contest, the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) released a statement that stated Nikhat.
The hosts got off to a great start thanks to Nitu (48 kg) and Manisha, who each won their respective battles by decisive scores in the Referee Stops Contest (RSC).
The 2022 Commonwealth Games champion Nitu got off to a cautious start against Sumaiya Qosimova of Tajikistan. But it only took her less than six minutes to convince the officials to call time. Manisha and Nur Turhan of Turkey traded hard punches during their heated 57kg battle.
Manisha, who took home bronze in the previous competition
She quickly went up the gears to grab the lead before pulling off a resounding triumph in the end. In the quarterfinals, she will face French fighter Amina Zidani, while Nitu will face Japan’s Madoka Wada. Shashi Chopra (63 kg), who gave it her all but lost the fight 0-4 to Mai Kito of Japan, suffered heartache in the meantime.
The three Indian boxers who have already qualified for the quarterfinals are Lovlina Borgohain (75 kg), Sakshi Choudhary (52 kg), Nupur Sheoran (+81 kg), and Saweety Boora (81 kg).
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The elite competition, in which 324 boxers from 65 nations, including several Olympic medalists, will compete for titles in the 12 weight categories, will feature quarterfinal matches on Wednesday. Later on Tuesday night, two more Indian fighters, Jaismine (60 kg) and Manju Bamboriya (66 kg), will compete in the pre-quarterfinals.
