Women’s World Boxing Ch’ships | L Sarita Devi, Nandini eliminated in second round

10/07/2019

One of India’s biggest hopes in the Women’s Boxing Championships, L Sarita Devi was shown the door at the Women’s Boxing Championships on Sunday as she went down fighting against Russia’s Natalia Shadrina. In another match, debutant Nandini (80kg) lost to Germany’s Irina-Nicoletta Schonberger.

The 2006 New Delhi gold medalist came into the tournament aiming for her first world medal in over a decade but the 60kg weight category star was bested by Russia’s Shadrina at Ulan-Ude, Russia. After getting a bye in the first round, the fourth-seeded boxer started off well and looked in control for the first round.

However, Shadrina staged a brilliant fight-back in the following two rounds and stunned Sarita Devi with a 5-0 unanimous verdict. The veteran Indian boxer has also been running to become a member of the International Boxing Association’s first-ever athletes commission, which would be formalised in the ongoing event itself.

The other pugilist, Nandini, didn’t have any such change in fortunes as she looked nervous right from the word go and struggled to keep up with the pace of a technically superior Schonberger. Her shakiness showed as she was even warned for hitting her rival on the back of the head. Nandini even sustained a cut on her face during the bout.

India’s little success came in Saweety Boora (75kg) and Jamuna Boro (54kg), who advanced to the pre-quarters after winning their opening bouts.