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Indian pugilists continued their good run at the AIBA Women’s Youth and Junior World Championships in Antalya, Turkey with a splendid performance in the semi-finals. Lalenkawli (46kg), Nikhat Zareen (50kg) and Lalfakzuali (52kg) advanced to the final of the Junior World Championships while Sarjubala Devi (48kg) and Minu Basumatary (64kg) also made a place in the last two of the Youth World Championships. All five Indian glove women are now assured of at least a silver medal performance – a significant achievement at the inaugural edition of the tournament
First up was Lalenkawli in the pin weight category. The reigning junior national champion, up against Satoko Nakata of Japan, was leading 12:8 after two rounds of play, when she launched into a massive attack. With a barrage of punches the 15 year old took a six point lead in the third, wining the bout 22:12 on points. She now takes on Neriman Istik of Turkey in the summit clash.
Sarjubala Devi elated after her win
Nikhat’s bout, in the fly weight category, was a much closer affair. The junior national gold medallist, who was down 6:8 after the first round, made a stunning recovery in the second and held on to claim a spot in the final with a 27:21 victory. Nikhat is expected to face stiff resistance in the final from local favourite Demir Ulku.
Next up was Lalfakzuali in the light bantamweight category, who plundered her way to the finals upsetting Aisaule Taiyar of Kazakhstan with a massive 26:8 defeat. A silver medallist at the Junior National Championships last year, Lalfakzuali, was unrelenting in her approach, never allowing the Kazak girl a moment of relief. “It was a tough fight for me in the quarters, but today I managed pretty well and hope carry on the same form in the finals”, expressed an elated Lalfakzuali after the bout. She will now lock horns with Vuong Thi Vy of Vietnam in the finals.
In the youth section, Sarjubala faced a tough opposition in the form of Kyzaybay Nazym from Kazakhstan, but the national youth gold medallist was up to the task. Making full use of agility and combination punches she went on to defeat her Kazak opponent by virtue of points 26:21. In the finals she will be up against Russian boxer Svetlana Dmitrieva. Talking about her final bout, Sarjubala said, “Although the boxer from Russian is strong, I am hopeful of a good performance and will give my very best to get the gold”.
Minu Basumatary up against Irina Gilca dominated proceeding from the very beginning, not allowing the Moldavian to settle down. Minu, a silver medallist in the national youth championship led throughout the four rounds of boxing, winning comfortably in the end on points 25:17. She will now battle with Turkish Elif Kayan for the championship title.
There was disappointment for Pwilao Basumatary (54kg) and Poonam Chahal (60kg) in the youth division as they lost their semi-final bouts. While Poonam lost out in a one-sided affair to Patrica Berghult of Sweden 17:3, Pwilao went down in closely fought contest to Thi Duyen Luu of Vietnam on points 20:13.
Warm RegardsBrig PK Muralidharan Raja, SM, VSMSecretary GeneralIndian Boxing Federation
