New Delhi, January 30
MC Mary Kom (49kg) and Shiva Thapa (60kg) were among the prominent names assured of medals as the Indian boxers continued to dominate in the inaugural $100,000 India Open here today.
Seeded 12th, five-time world champion Mary Kom had no trouble in beating compatriot K Bina Devi. The 35-year-old prevailed 5-0 in a lopsided contest, her nimble footwork standing out.
Also advancing was L Sarita Devi (60kg). Sarita edged past Thailand’s Peamwilai Laopeam in a 4-1 decision and set up a clash with Priyanka Chaudhary. Priyanka defeated Indonesian Huswatun Hasanboy 5-0.
In the evening session, former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Manoj Kumar (69kg) struck some lusty left hooks en route a 5-0 win over compatriot Pawan Kumar to enter the semifinals.
World Championships bronze medallist Thapa beat Uzbekistan’s Sherbek Rakhmatulloev. The top seed started off on a cautious note and spent the first three minutes getting a measure of his rival. In the second round, though, both boxers exchanged a fair number of blows before Thapa started taking control of the proceedings.
Rakhmatulloev began to drain out, while Thapa stepped it up in the final three minutes to get the judges’ nod in a split decision.
The Assam boxer will next face compatriot Manish Kaushik, who out-punched Filipino Charly Suarez. Kaushik had beaten Thapa in the Nationals final last year.
Amit Panghal (49kg) claimed a dominating 5-0 triumph over Cameroon’s Simplice Fotsala to set up a clash with fellow Indian Lalbiakkima Nutlai, who got the better of Kenya’s Shaffi Hassan.
World Championships silver medallist Saweety Boora (75kg) had little trouble in dispatching Nepal’s Saraswati Rana. Youth world champion Shashi Chopra beat compatriot Y Sandhyarani.
Among the major disappointments of the day was top seed and World Championships silver medallist Sonia Lather (57kg). She lost her quarterfinal bout in a split verdict to Indonesian Christian Marwan Jembay.
Another top seed to make a quarterfinal exit was Asian Games bronze medallist Pooja Rani (75kg), who lost to Essiane Clotilde of Cameroon in a split verdict.
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