World Boxing Cup Finals | India assured of four medals on first day of competition

World champion Minakshi Hooda (48kg) asserted her class, while Paris Olympian Preeti Pawar (54kg) made a fine comeback to enter the semifinals and ensure medals for India on the opening day of the World Boxing Cup Finals at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Indoor Stadium here on Sunday.

The promising Ankush Panghal (80kg), a last-minute replacement for the injured Lakshya Chahar, and Asian Games bronze medallist Narender Berwal (90+kg) also advanced to the last-four in the men’s section to assure two more medals.

Using her long reach, Minakshi recorded a convincing 5-0 victory over Kazakhstan’s Bolat Akbota. Minakshi’s ring craft and accurate punching gave her control and a clear advantage throughout the contest.

Preeti overcame former World youth champion Nigina Uktamova 5-0. Learning from her 2021 loss to the Uzbek boxer at the Asian youth championships, southpaw Preeti employed her jabs and backhand punches to good effect to score against the attacking Nigina. Her improved defence also helped the Indian.

Another southpaw, Ankush gave a good account of himself on his international debut as he defeated Wakaya Go 5-0. Landing a stinging jab, Ankush inflicted a standing count on the Japanese in the first round and mixed his jabs and hooks well to make an impression. His evasive skills kept him safe.

Narender managed a hard-fought 4-1 win over Ukraine’s hard-hitting Andrii Khaletskyi. The well-built Indian, who received some powerful punches and suffered a cut on his left-eyebrow in the final period, connected his counters to consistently convince four judges in every round.

Important results: Quarterfinals: Men: 65kg: Mukhiddinov Adkhamjon (Uzb) bt Jang Donghwan (Kor) 5-0; 80kg: Begaliyev Sanzhar-Ali (Kaz) bt Kim Minseong (Kor) 5-0; Ankush Panghal bt Wakaya Go (Jpn) 5-0 90+kg: Mamasoliev Khalimjon (Uzb) bt Hagag Ahmed (Aut) 5-0; Narender Berwal bt Andrii Khaletskyi (ukr) 4-1.

Women: 48kg: Minakshi Hooda bt Bolat Akbota (Kaz) 5-0. 54kg: Preeti Pawar bt Nigina Uktamova (Uzb) 5-0; 70kg: Aziza Zokirova (Uzb) bt Patricia Mbata (Ngr) 5-0.