Defending champion Nikhat Zareen and four-time Asian medalist Shiva Thapa sailed into the quarter-finals of the Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament events after registering victories in the 51Kg women’s and 63Kg men’s bouts respectively.
Asian Championship bronze medallist Nikhat was up against local favourite and 2018 gold medallist Sevda Asenova, who had stunned legendary MC Mary Kom in 2018 to win gold. However, the Indian pugilist was declared the winner as her opponent Asenova pulled out of the bout in the second round.
Former world bronze-medallist Thapa outpunched Pavel Polakovic, who hails from Poland, 5-0 in his last 16 stage clash. Thapa had advanced into the second round after he was handed an opening-round bye.
In the men’s competition, former national champion Duryodhan Singh Negi (69kg) and Mohammed Hussamuddin (57kg) started the day on a winning note for the Indian contingent and advances into the quarters of the competition.
Duryodhan Singh Negi got better of Poland’s Mateusz Polski in the 69kg bout with a 4-1 split verdict. In the 57kg bout India’s Mohammed Hussamuddin, 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, punched out French boxer Enzo Grau with a similar scoreline as Negi.
However, the Indian pugilists did not have a great day on the opening day of the Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament as India endured six opening-round defeats on Tuesday evening.
On an opening day on Tuesday, South Asian Games gold-medallist Ankit Khatana (75kg), Asian silver-medallist Deepak Kumar (52kg), Narender (+91kg), and Naveen Kumar (91kg) made early exits after losing the opening bouts. In the women’s bouts, Nupur and Lalita were knocked out after losing in 75 kg and 69 kg bouts respectively.
Khatana was shown the door by American boxer Javier Martinez who registered a 5-0 victory over the Indian. Narinder suffered the same fate by another American Richard Torrez Jr. Deepak went down 1-4 to Spain’s Gabriel Escobar while Naveen lost 0-5 to Abbes Mouhiidine who hails from Italy.
