World Women’s Boxing Championships | Jamuna Boro gives India winning start in her debut

Jamuna Boro (54kg) gave a flying start to India’s campaign with a smooth win at the World Women’s Boxing Championships in Ulan-Ude, Russia on Friday. Boro defeated Mongolia’s Michidmaa Erdenedalai 5-0, recovering from a slow start for a resounding victory and advances to the pre-quarterfinals. The 22-year-old, employed with Assam Rifles, started her career as a wushu player and has won a gold medal at the 2nd India Open International Boxing Tournament held in Guwahati. Boro is one of the 10 boxers that will represent India at the championships. 

A debutant at the event, Boro, took her time to warm up but once she got going, the Assamese pugilist dominated Erdenedalai with her combination punches. She managed to not get distracted by her sprightly rival’s grunting and connected her jabs particularly well. The Indian was unstoppable in the final three minutes of the bout and thoroughly out-punched Erdenedalai.

She will face a tough bout next as she will square off against Algeria’s fifth-seeded Ouidad Sfouh in the pre-quarterfinals, who had won a gold in the 2017 World Championships and was given a first-round bye here.

On Saturday, former national champion Neeraj (57kg) will face China’s Qiao Jieru, Saweety will face Mongolia’s Myagmarjargal Munkhbat in the opening round. Saweety Boora (75kg), an ex-silver-winner at the event, will also be in action for India.

The ongoing edition of the championships features 224 boxers from 57 countries. India’s best performance at the showpiece event was back in 2006 when the country won eight medals, including four gold.