New Delhi: M.C. Mary Kom (49kg) and Shiva Thapa (60kg) assured themselves of medals as India continued to dominate the ring at the $100,000 India Open boxing tournament here on Tuesday.
Seeded 12th, five-time world and Asian champion Mary Kom overwhelmed compatriot K. Bina Devi.
The 35-year-old from Manipur prevailed 5-0 in a lopsided contest. Also advancing but with a hard-fought win was L. Sarita Devi (60kg). Sarita edged past Thailand’s Peamwilai Laopeam in a split 4-1 decision to set up a clash with Priyanka Chaudhary, who defeated Indonesia’s Huswatun Hasanboy 5-0.
Manoj Kumar (69 kg) overpowered compatriot Pawan Kumar 5-0 to enter the semi-finals. World bronze medallist Thapa, a three-time Asian championships medal winner, beat Uzbek Sherbek Rakhmatulloev in a split verdict.
He next faces Manish Kaushik, who out-punched Filipino Charly Suarez in his quarters bout. But top seed and world championships silver medallist Sonia Lather (57kg) bowed out of medal contention, losing her quarter-final in a split 3-2 verdict to Indonesia’s Christian Marwan Jembay.
Another top seed to make an exit in the quarters was Pooja Rani (75kg), beaten by Essiane Clotilde of Cameroon in a split 2-3 verdict. Among other prominent names in the men’s section, who made it to the last-four stage were K. Shyam Kumar (49kg), Satish Kumar (+91kg) and Ankush Dahiya (60kg). Saweety Boora (75kg) defeated Nepal’s Saraswati Rana. World youth champion Shashi Chopra beat Y. Sandhyarani.
