New Delhi: Former world junior champion Nikhat Zareen (51kg) and Asian Championships silver medallist Deepak (49kg) won their quarter-finals on Wednesday to confirm medals as a total of eight Indian boxers have made it to the semifinals of the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament 2019 going on in Bangkok.
Besides Nikhat and Deepak, others who are now assured of medals by dint of reaching the last-four on the fifth day of this tournament are Mohammed Hussamuddin (56kg), Ashish (69kg), Ashish Kumar (75kg), Brijesh Yadav (81kg), and Manju Rani (48kg).
Earlier on Tuesday, Bhagyabati Kachari (75kg) confirmed India’s first medal this year from this tournament when she notched up a commanding 5-0 win over Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Huong in the quarterfinals.
Strandja Cup gold medallist Nikhat was irrepressible in her 5-0 domination of Uzbekistan’s Sitora Shogdarova. Nikhat will be looking to add the gold two months after settling for the bronze at the India Open.
Manju Rani, a Strandja Cup silver medallist, also claimed a unanimous 5-0 victory over Italy’s Roberta Bonatti to join Kachari and Nikhat in the semis. The only casualty for India on Wednesday was Asian Championships bronze medallist Manisha Moun who bowed out 0-5 to Russia’s Liudmila Vorontsova in 57kg.
Deepak did not have to exert himself in his quarter-final bout with Thailand’s Samak Saehan where he was declared a winner by RSC in Round I. GeeBee Boxing silver-medallist Mohammed Hussamuddin also kept his title hopes alive with a flawless 5-0 win over Korea’s Lee Yechan.
In 69kg, Ashish outpunched Jamaica’s Joshua Frazer 5-0 to cruise into the semis along with his namesake, Ashish Kumar, who was a brilliant 5-0 winner over China’s TuchetaerbiekeTanglatihan in 75kg.
India Open silver medallist Brijesh Yadav was the only one of the Indian men to drop a point in his 4-1 win over Thailand’s Jakkapong Yomkhot in a split verdict.
As many as 37 countries and 247 boxers have participated in this tournament to test themselves against some of the world’s best ahead of the World Championships later in the year.
Monika, Jamuna impress at Cup
At the ongoing 23rd President’s Cup in Labuan Bajo in Indonesia, Monika (48kg) hardly broke a sweat in ending the challenge of Indonesia’s Niis Anggelina 5-0 to book her place in the final of this prestigious tournament.
India Open gold medallist Jamuna Boro (54kg) continued her impeccable form as well to make it to the semifinals following a 5-0 victory over Thailand’s Inkam Jeerapark.
Neeraj Swami (49kg) and Dinesh Dagar (69kg) had earlier assured themselves of a medal after making their way into the semi-finals.
Six-time World Championships gold medallist Mary Kom leads the 10-member Indian squad at this prestigious tournament which will continue till July 28.
