IMAGE: India’s Anamika will face Hu Meiyi of China in the final of the 50kg category on Sunday. Photograph: Kind courtesy India_All Sports/Twitter
Indian pugilists Govind Kumar Sahani, Anamika and Anupama secured monumental victories to storm into the finals of the 74th Strandja Memorial International Boxing Tournament in their respective categories on Saturday.
Govind was up against Luka Kublashvili of Georgia in the semi-finals of the men’s 48kg category. The 2022 Asian championships bronze medallist attacked from the get go to emerged victorious by a 4-1 margin.
Govind will face the 2023 Asian U-22 Championships silver medallist Shodiyorjon Melikuziev of Uzbekistan in the final on Sunday.
Going up against Wassila Lkhadiri of France in the women’s 50kg category, Anamika started cautiously but showcased immense grit to fight back in the second round.
The Indian utilised her quick movement to dodge the two-time EUBC Championships bronze medallists’ punches whilst attacking smartly to gain control of the contest.
With a dominating performance in the third round, Anamika defeated her French opponent by 4-1 to advance to the finals. She will face Hu Meiyi of China in the final.
Anupama had to be at her razor sharp best in her clash against the 2022 World Championships bronze medallist Jessica Bagley of Australia.
In what was a closely-contested bout between two pugilists of supreme technical ability, it was the Indian who got the better of her opponent with her attacking intent and confidence.
Displaying stellar strength and landing accurate punches, Anupama managed to keep the Australian at bay and eked out an impressive 3:2 victory by split decision. She will take on another Australian, Emma-Sue Greentree in the final of the 81kg category.
In the other semi-final bouts, women pugilists S Kalaivani, Shruti Yadav and Monika suffered identical 0-5 defeats to bow out of the competition.
While Kalaivani lost to 2022 Asian Youth silver medallist Saidakhon Rakhmonova of Uzbekistan in the 48kg category, Shruti went down fighting against 2022 European silver medallist Christina Desmond of Ireland in the 70kg category.
Monika, on the other hand, was beaten by Aynur Rzayeva of Azerbaijan in the +81kg category.
In the men’s 51kg category, 2021 Asian youth champion Bishwamitra Chongtham suffered a hard-fought 2-3 defeat by split decision against 2020 Olympian Quiroga Ramon Nicanor of Argentina.
2021 World Youth champion Sachin was forced to exit the competition – his 54kg category bout against two-time European Youth champion Yasen Radev of Bulgaria was abandoned in the third round after the Indian boxer got a cut below his eye.
Late on Friday night, Mohammad Hussamuddin (57kg) and Mahi Lama (63kg) were both defeated 0-5 scoreline by Artur Bazeyan of Armenia and Keona Sam-Sin of Netherlands respectively.
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