Khelo India 2019, Boxing: Fancied stars Mitika, Raj Sahiba, Chanu move into the last four

Pune, Jan 16: Maharashtra’s Mitika Gunele, Haryana’s Raj Sahiba and Manipur’s Babyrojisana Chanu justified their international reputation by comfortably entering into the semi-finals of their weight categories in the Girls under-17 boxing here at the Khelo India Youth Games.

Mitika, a gold medalist of 7th Nations Cup in Serbia in 2018 got the better of Haryana’s Anu Rani 4-1 in welterweight (66kg) category while Raj Sahiba, a Khelo India and the Nations Cup gold medalist (2018) defeated Haryana’s Divya after referee stopped the bout in the 2nd round.

In the same category, Babyrojisana Chanu, a student of legendary Mary Kom, booked her place in the last four. Chanu is a gold medalist of Junior Asian Championship and 7th Nations Cup held last year.

Among under-17 boys, Pune’s Akash Gorkha confirmed his medal by entering into last-four in the featherweight (57kg) category. A vocal crowd from Boys Sports Company was present at the venue to cheer him. Taking advantage of his lanky and lean body structure, Aakash rained punches on his opponent and scripted an easy victory.

Akash’s father Ramesh works as a watchman in Pune and he didn’t want his son to follow his footsteps so enrolled his name in the Nehru Stadium Boxing academy. Under the watchful eyes of coach Umesh Jagdale, Akash excelled in the sport quickly and started performing at state and national tournaments. He also won a silver medal in the 7th Asian Cup in Serbia.

Aakash who is currently training with Army Sports Institute, Pune feels that the training under Army coaches is too intense and has surely played a role in his performance in the Khelo India.

“I don’t have to worry about anything. We just put ourselves best during the training and during the bouts. That’s what we have been told and I am following the same,” he said.

Results: Girls U17 (Q/Fs)

Featherweight (57kg): Sovi Jajo (MN) bt Yamini Tanwar (DL) 5-0; Arshi Khanam (RJ) bt Suruchi (HR) 5-0; Huidrom Ambeshori Devi (MN) bt Deepika (HP) 5-0; Neha (HR) bt Aditi Sharma (MH) RSC

Lightweight (60kg): Yashi Sharma (HR) bt Aashreya Naik (GA) 3-2; Elisabath Sinu (KR) bt Barbi Gogoi (AS) RSC; Sana Gonsalves (MH) bt Lakshita Sharma (MP) RSC; Preeti Dahiya (HR) bt Zeenath (TN) 5-0

Light Welterweight (63kg): Vinka (HR) bt Susmita Narzary (AS) 5-0; Sneha (HP) bt Rudrika Kundu (HR) 3-2; Mahi Raghav (HR) bt Rachita Dudy (CH) 5-0; Nisha Gurjar (RJ) bt Baggu Mounika (AP) 4-1;

Welterweight (66kg): Mitika Gunele (MH) bt Anu Rani (HR) 4-1; Alisha Sunny (KR) bt Prabhnoor Kaur (PB) RSC; Harnoor Kaur (CH) bt Hmangte Cindy Kom (MN) 3-2; Muskan (HR) bt Messala Yasoda (AP) RSC

Light middleweight (70kg): Pranjal Yadav (HR) bt Shivani (UP) 5-0; Raj Sahiba (HR) bt Divya (HR) RSC; Arundhati Choudhary (RJ) bt Kiranpreet Kaur (PB) 5-0; Sanamacha Chanu (MN) bt Sandra SS (KR) RSC

Boys U-17 (all Q/Fs)

Featherweight (57kg): Akash Gorkha (MH) bt Thangjamcha (MN)3-2; Aman Duhan (HR) bt Chotu Kumar (GA) 4-1; Vanshaj (HR) bt Rajesh Giri Goswami (UK) 5-0; Deepak (HR) bt Rohit (HP) 3-2.

Lightweight (60kg): Rahul Mamgal (UP) bt Rohan Pandere (MH) 3-2; Ankit Narwal (HR) bt Ganesh Mohite (GA) 5-0; Saurabh Chand (UK) bt Taw Pakba (AR) 5-0; Laishram Singh (MH) bt Imdad Hussain (AS) 5-0.

Light Welterweight (63kg): Saksham Singh (UP) bt Yuvraj (HR) 5-0; Ajay Kumar (HR) bt Yogesh Kagar (HR) 5-0; Ankush (HR) bt Arjun Sharma (MN) 5-0; Dhruv Singh (DL) bt Yash Choudhary (CH) 5-0.

Welterweight (66kg): Aman (CH) bt Abhay Saroha (HR) 4-1; Pankaj Kumar (UK) bt Aakash (MH) 3-2; Manish (HR) bt Lalit Mandeliya (MP) 5-0; Vikas Chauhan (UP) bt Saurabh Singh Charan (RJ) 3-2.

Light middleweight (70kg): Sumit (HR) bt Amandeep Singh (MH) 5-0; Yatinder Bhardwaj (HR) bt Sagar Seharawat (DL) 5-0; Tonit (HR) bt Vishesh Kundu (PB) 5-0; Rahul (CH) bt Saurabh Sangwan (HR) 3-2.