India boxers Nikhat Zareen (52kg), Manisha (57kg) and Parveen (63kg) advanced to the semi-finals of the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Istanbul on Monday, thereby confirming three medals for the country.
While Nikhat out-punched England’s Charley-Sian Davison 5-0, Parveen got the better off Shoira Zulkaynarova of Tajikistan with an identical margin. Manisha defeated Mongolia’s Namuun Monkhor by a 4-1 split decision.
Continuing her stellar run from the Strandja Memorial tournament where she won gold earlier this year, Nikhat handed India their first medal at this year’s tournament.
The 25-year-old was all pumped up in her bout against Davison. Both boxers attacked each other ferociously in the first round. However, in the second round, Nikhat pounded her opponent with terrific body shots to tire her out while also landing clean and sharp punches.
With two rounds in the bag, Nikhat then displayed her defensive skills as she no longer felt the need to be on the offensive in the final few minutes of her quarter-final bout.
“My opponent was taller than me, so my strategy was to block her right hand which is her strength. I am delighted to give India the first medal, hope I can win the gold,” Nikhat said after the bout.
The former junior world champion will next square off against Caroline De Almeida of Brazil.
