Sonia Lather settles for Silver at Women's World Boxing Championship
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Indian female pugilist Sonia Lather put up a valiant fight and brought India its only medal from the Boxing Championship final on Friday evening at Astana. Boxing in the 57-kg category, Sonia lost to Italian opponent and top-seed Alessia Mesiano, who won the clash 2-1 to clinch the gold medal.
Sonia was the only Indian to have entered the medal rounds, and she showed her confidence in the early exchanges of the bout, landing some well-timed and well-executed punches. After a few good combinations, Sonia found herself in the driver’s seat, but not for long.
Mesiano, last year’s bronze medallist fought back well and landed one punch after the other to gain a stronghold on the match across the next three rounds. The top-seed started to manoeuvre the Indian from close range, almost dictating the tempo of the bout.
As a former Silver medallist at the Asian Championship, Sonia tried to counter but her jabs were well dodged by her opponent, who was not ready to give her any room whatsoever. After landing a few straight punches at Sonia’s face in the third and fourth rounds, Mesiano went on to win the match 2-1 to end India’s hopes of a gold medal.
Barring Sonia, it was a poor showing by the Indian contingent, most of whom got knocked out in the early rounds itself, ensuring there would be no Indian women boxer in Rio.
