Ajit Karn
Tuesday at the Women’s World Championships in New Delhi, “exhausted” Nikhat Zareen advanced to the quarterfinals with three other boxers, including Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Jaismine Lamboria. Nikhat defeated Patricia Alvarez Herrera of Mexico, 5-0, to earn her third victory of the tournament, in her first international competition at the 50 kg weight class. Nitu Ghanghas (48kg) defeated Sumaiya Qosimova of Tajikistan with a first-round RSC, while Manisha Moun (57kg) defeated Nur Elif Turhan of Turkey with a third-round favou.
Mijgona Samadova of Tajikistan was defeated by Jaismine (60 kg) after a round of defeat.
Shashi Chopra (63 kilogrammes) and Manju Bamboriya (66 kilogrammes) withdrew from the tournament.
Manju was literally outpunched by Navbakhor Khamidova of Uzbekistan, whereas Shashi lost 0-4 to Mai Kito of Japan.
Nikhat took a few seconds to discern her opponent’s strategy before assaulting. She avoided Herrera’s counterattacks by evading with her agile feet.
Both competitors have moved down in weight from the 52 kilogramme division. Nikhat, cognizant of the Mexican’s aggressive approach, utilised her speed to strike precise jabs and hooks.
Herrera, whom she had defeated in the previous edition, attempted to swing the momentum in her favou, but Nikhat’s relentless assaults proved to be too much for her to overcome.
Nikhat, who has already competed in three battles, including one against the top seed, and is still three encounters away from the gold medal, declared that she is exhausted.
Nikhat, who was unseeded and had multiple wounds on her lip, exclaimed after her match, “I am pleased to have defeated the top-seeded player.”
“As my last match was against the top seed, I’m still experiencing some fatigue. It was difficult, and her blows landed fairly well, so my neck was tense and my body was sluggish compared to my previous fight. However, I am pleased that this victory was unanimous.
This is the first boxing tournament in my career in which I will play six contests because I was not seeded, but I am not concerned with that. On Wednesday, eight Indian boxers — Nitu, Nikhat, Sakshi Choudhary (52 kilogrammes), Manisha, Jaismine, Lovlina Borgohain (75 kilogrammes), Saweety Boora (81 kilogrammes), and Nupur Sheoran (+81 kilogrammes) — will compete in the quarterfinals.
Nitu recorded her second RSC victory in as many matches in the tournament during the day’s opening session.
Both Nitu and Qosimova attempted to decipher the other’s strategy, but when the Indian landed four consecutive strikes, the referee gave the opponent her first standing count.
Nitu continued her assault as she surrounded the Tajikistan boxer and pummelling her with direct blows.
To the dismay of her opponent, who kept making the thumbs-down gesture when the result was announced, the referee gave Qosimova her second standing count before declaring the match in favour of the Indian.
The seasoned Manisha asserted her authority with a direct strike and a combination of punches.
Manisha took advantage of the fact that she was significantly taller than the Turkish boxer by unleashing a right and left punch followed by a strike.
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Turhan attempted to assault in the second round after receiving two standing counts in the opening three minutes, but Manisha continued to strike hooks and jabs with ease.
To avoid her opponent’s strikes, she continued to manoeuvre. With only a few seconds left before the final bell, Manisha’s barrage of punches and hooks prompted the referee to call a favou of the home combatant to end the bout.
