Sarita Devi and Sonia Lather make their way to Finals of National Boxing Championship
Getty Images
Sarita Devi (60kg) and Asian silver-medallist Sonia Lather (57kg) have advanced to the finals after clinching commanding semi-final wins in the National Women's Boxing Championships in Rohtak on Thursday. However, Junior world Champion Nikhat Zareen (48kg) was knocked out of the tournament.
Dominating performances in the initial stages of the championship had seen former World Champion L Sarita Devi defeat the likes of Tamil Nadu's Muthulakshmi and Arunachal Pradesh's Aquillia Dupak in the fourth round and quarter-finals respectively, to progress to the semi-finals. Representing the All India Police, Sarita out-punched Haryana's Monika 5-0 to set up a final with Railways Sports Promotion Board's Pavitra. Pavitra beat Uttarakhand's Priyanka Choudhary 5-0 to set up the bout.
Railway Sports Promotion Board's Sonia Lather, on the other hand, had defeated Uttarakhand's Kamla Bisht 5-0 in order to progress to the semi-finals where she faced defeated All India Police's Sandhya Rani whom she beat by the same margin. Her victory meant that she would face reigning youth world champion Shashi Chopra in what promises to be a thrilling encounter.
Former world silver-medallist Sarjubala Devi (48kg) also entered the finals, beating RSPB's Meenakshi. Former junior world champion Nikhat Zareen (48kg), who rallied past Chattisgarh's Abha to be assured of her second successive medal bowed out to Haryana-girl Ritu in a split verdict.
Results (Semi-Finals) :
Light Fly (45 - 48 KG) : Monika (Har) bt K. Bina Devi (Man) 5:0; Rajesh Narwal (RSPB) bt Varsha Choudhery (UP) 5:0; Fly (48 -51 KG) : Sh Sarju Bala (Man) bt Meenakshi (RSPB) 4:1; Ritu (Har) bt Nikhat Zareen (Tel) 4:1; Bantam (51 - 54 KG) : Manisha (Har) bt Shavinder Kaur Sindhu (Pun) 3:2; Meena Kumari (AIP) bt Jamuna Boro (Asm) 5:0
Feather (54 - 57 KG) : Sonia Lather (RSPB) bt Sandhya Rani (AIP) 5:0; Shashi Chopra (Har) bt Sonia (AP) 3:2; Light (57 - 60 KG) : L Sarita Devi (AIP)
Light Welter (60 - 64 KG) : Pwilao Basumatary (RSPB) bt Poonam (AIP) 5:0.
Bengaluru Bulls or Tamil Thalaivas? Who will win?
Presenting Nostragamus, the first ever prediction game that covers the Pro Kabaddi league. Play the PKL challenge and win cash prizes daily!!
Download the app for FREE and get Rs.20 joining BONUS. Join 30,000 other users who win cash by playing NostraGamus. Click here to download the app for FREE on android!
