Nikhat, Lovlina win, four Indians into world boxing semis
The onus was on Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain to lead from the front. They showed their class on Wednesday as four boxers, Nitu Ghanghas (48kg) and Saweety (81kg) being the others, progressed into the semi-finals of the IBA women’s world boxing championships here, assuring the hosts of four medals.
India though would have expected a better showing after eight of their boxers reached the quarter-finals. With many top nations, including US, Canada and Britain, boycotting the tournament, it was an opportunity for the hosts to achieve a bigger medal haul that the 2018 championships when they finished with four medals at the same Indira Gandhi Stadium here.
It has been a highly demanding week for Nikhat, the 52kg world champion who is competing in the lower Olympic weight division. Nikhat has fought her fourth bout in the championships, three coming in the last three days. Having shifted to a new weight category (50kg) that has as many as 35 boxers competing, she was unseeded. She will fight six bouts if she goes all the way, but Nikhat has been on cruise mode, having put up a determined show thus far.
On Wednesday, she survived some anxious moments against Thailand’s Raksat Chuthamat before her hand was raised in victory by the referee. The close contest went for a bout review and as the announcer called the name of ‘boxer in blue’, indicating Raksat, a collective sigh passed through the audience. The Thai boxer and her coaches broke into celebration, but it didn't last long. As it turned out, it was the verdict announcement for the bout on the adjacent ring. Within seconds, the atmosphere in the stadium brightened and Nikhat bowed to the crowd amid vociferous cheering and joyous dhol beats.
Nikhat won the first two rounds 3-2, but Raksat kept fighting in the third. Whenever Nikhat got the opportunity to free her arms, she used the left hook to good effect and stayed busy.
“It was close so I am happy that I assured India of a medal here. Inshallah, I will win a gold medal,” said Nikhat. “For a few seconds it was shocking when ‘blue’ was announced the winner but I soon realised it was for a different bout.”
Fighting back-to-back bouts has been tough, but she has borne the workload.
“I have less time for recovery because bouts are happening in the evening session. As we go from here, I need to start my weight management. But whatever time I get I can recover.”
It was a huge moment for Nikhat as her parents watched from the stands. Emotions have run high for her this week. “When I was coming to the IG stadium from Patiala, I remembered the last time in 2018 I was not part of the team. I had come here as a spectator to watch the bouts and support the Indian team and also spar with the other boxers to gain experience. Today, to be part of the Indian team and confirm a medal is huge for me,” she said.
Lovlina shines
Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina too maintained her stellar show. She showed good control and ring craft to get past an aggressive Gramane Rady Adosinda of Mozambique by a unanimous verdict. Gramane started strongly, trying to reach the tall Lovlina, but her punches were were out of range.
Lovlina stuck to her plan of boxing from a distance without engaging in close fighting. She also defended well and won the first round 5-0. Gramane started connecting her punches in the second, but Lovlina continued with her ploy of stepping back and throwing counters using her left jab. It will be Lovlina’s third medal from the world championships, having won bronze in 2018 at home, and then in 2019.
“It is a very important medal for me and I hope I will be able to change the colour this time. But just the confidence it will give me in middleweight before the Asian Games, which will be a qualification for the Paris Olympics,” said Lovlina. “It was difficult to shift to a new higher weight but I feel more comfortable now at 75kg. Earlier (at 69kg) I had to control my weight a lot, while now I am able to adapt better.”
Nikhat and Lovlina both have strong opponents to deal with. Nikhat will face Rio Olympics bronze medallist Ingrit Valencia of Colombia while Lovlina will meet two-time Olympic medallist Li Qian of China.
Young Nitu Ghanhas has also been in terrific form, coming into the quarter-final on the back of two Referee Stopped Contest verdicts. On Wednesday, she made it a third RSC, this time against Japanese Wada Madoka in the second round. The Japanese team though was disappointed with the decision.
Also moving to the semi-final was three-time Asian medallist Saweety, who scored a dominating 5-0 win over the 2018 World Championships bronze medallist Viktoria Kebikava of Belarus. The seasoned boxer sailed through, using her reach and throwing clean punches.
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