Sarjubala, Sumit assured of medals
New Delhi, Jan. 29: Asian silver medallist Sumit Sangwan ( 91kg) and world silver medallist Sarjubala Devi ( 51kg) were among the four Indian boxers who assured themselves of medals after facile wins in the inaugural India Open tournament here on Monday.
Second seed Sumit defeated Virender Kumar 5- 0, while Sarjubala Devi ( 51kg) and Pinki Jangra ( 51kg) advanced to the semis in the women’s competition of the $ 100,000 event.
Shiva Thapa also started his campaign with a resounding 5- 0 victory over Bhutan’s Dorji Wangdi. He didn’t exert himself though, preferring to reserve his energy for the sterner stuff ahead.
The heavyweight ( 91kg) top seed, Naman Tanwar, who claimed a bronze at the world youth championships, made an impressive debut the senior circuit, defeating Jordan’s Eishaish Hussein to enter the semifinals and be assured of a medal.
Entering the quarterfinals with an easy win was top seed and threetime Asian medallist Shiva Thapa ( 60kg), who produced a calculated performance to defeat Bhutan’s Dorji Wangdi in his opening clash. Shiva will face Uzbekistan’s Sherbek Rakhmatulloev.
Another impressive win of the day was by reigning national champion Manish Kaushik ( 60kg), who came up with a spirited show to defeat Cuba’s Rabi Armando Martinez.
Top seed Sarjubala assured India of their first medal of the day when she got past Kenya’s Christine Ongare 5- 0.
The Manipuri, who is a world championships silver medallist was in aggressive mode from the first bell. in