Six-time world champion MC Mary Kom will lock horns with Nikhat Zareen in the 51kg final of the Women’s Boxing Trials for next year’s Olympic qualifiers. Both won their first round matches on Friday in a unanimous decision.
Former junior world champion Nikhat Zareen beat Jyoti Gulia, while multiple-time Asian champion Mary Kom defeated Ritu Grewal in their respective opening round bouts. The two-day competition will end on Saturday, The winner of the final bout will get a ticket to Wuhan, China where the first Olympic qualifiers are scheduled to be held.
In other bouts on Friday, world youth gold medalist Sakshi defeated Asian silver medalist Manisha Maun in 57 kg while former national champion Simranjeet Kaur defeated Pavitra in 60 kg. Both results were unanimous. The Olympic qualifiers will be held in China in February next year.
All five classes in women’s boxing – 51 kg, 57 kg, 60 kg, 69 kg and 75 kg – will be decided by trial as no boxer could make it to the finals of the World Championship. The men’s two-day trial will begin in Bellary, Karnataka from Sunday.