Five Indians get a shot at gold in world youth boxing
GUWAHATI: Two more Indian boxers punched their way into the finals of the AIBA Women’s Youth World Championships while a third – Anupama in the light heavyweight category – found her Russian rival too hot to handle.
The victories of Nitu and Sakshi have ensured India five silver medals with three boxers having reached the finals on Friday. Jyoti Gulia (51kg), Shashi Chopra (57kg) and Ankushita Boro (64kg) reached the finals on Friday.
This will be India’s best performance since the 2011 edition of the tournament when Sarjubala Devi of Manipur had won a gold medal.
Nitu (48 kg), the first to take the ring, found the defence of China’s Yuan Nie hard to break until the third round. A barrage of right straights in the final round impressed the judges.
Nitu meets Kazakhstan’s Zhazira Urakbayeva, who defeated Ireland’s Caitlin Fryers in a tough bout, in the light flyweight final.
The lively Sakshi (54 kg) had a relatively easier evening in the ring against Japan’s Irie Sena. The ferocity of the Haryana girl’s attack made the Japanese throw in the towel half-way through the second round.
Sakshi will be up against Ivy Jane Smith of England in the bantamweight final. Anupama (81 kg) proved to be the only disappointment, against Russia’s Anastasiia Rybak.
“Our boxers have performed really well. But they know they have be at their best to cross the final hurdle,” India’s head coach Bhaskar Bhatt told HT.