Finance
In the Mahindra IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships here on Saturday, Indian pugilist Preeti defied the odds by defeating 2022 World Championships silver medalist Lacramioara Perijoc, while Nitu Ghanghas and Manju Bamboriya also won convincingly.
Preeti (54kg), who won bronze at the 2022 Asian Championships, won her second match of the ongoing tournament at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex here, defeating Romanian Perijoc 4-3 on points after the bout was reviewed. The energetic approach of the Haryana-born pugilist helped her get off to a strong start, with her solid punches and quick feet catching her opponent off guard in the first round.
After a cautious start, Perijoc made an impressive comeback in the second round to make the fight a close one. While both pugilists were going toe-to-toe, Preeti’s technical ability and conviction helped her overpower her opponent and edge her out in the final round to secure victory. In the Round of 16, the Indian will face another World Championship silver medalist from last year, Jutamas Jitpong of Thailand.
Nitu Ghanghas, the 2022 Commonwealth Games champion, easily defeated Kang Do-Yeon of South Korea in the 48kg category with an RSC victory in the first round. The 22-year-attacking old’s prowess proved too much for the Korean, who did not get any opportunity to settle down in the bout.
With Nitu’s relentless attack showing no signs of abating, the referee called a halt to the fight in the first round, awarding the Indian her first victory of the tournament. In the next round, she will face Tajikistan’s Sumaiya Qosimova.
Following Preeti and Nitu’s victories, Manju (66kg) won her bout against Cara Wharerau of New Zealand by unanimous decision, ensuring an Indian clean sweep on the third day of the tournament. In her next match, the Indian will face top-seeded Navbakhor Khamidova of Uzbekistan.
Meanwhile, Algeria’s 2022 African Champion Imane Khelif easily defeated Kenya’s Asiko Friza Anyango in the 66kg category after the referee called a halt to the competition in the first round.
On Sunday, reigning World Champion Nikhat Zareen will compete in the 50kg category against Roumaysa Boualam of Algeria, while bronze medalist Manisha Moun (57kg) will begin her campaign.
Nesthy Petecio of the Philippines, 2020 Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Tsukimi Namiki of Japan, 2022 World Championships silver medallist Irma Testa, 2016 Rio Olympics bronze medallist Ingrit Valencia of Colombia, and the 2022 World Championships bronze medallist duo of Brazilian Caroline de Almeida and Kazakh Karina Ibragimova will also compete.
The ongoing event features 324 boxers from 65 countries, including several Olympic medalists, competing for titles in 12 weight categories. The tournament has a massive prize pool of INR 20 crore.
Source:OCN
