Four Indian boxers in Russia semis

Date :02-Aug-2019

NEW DELHI:

ASIAN gold-medallist Pooja Rani (75kg) and world bronze-winner Lovlina Borgohain (69kg), along with two others Indians, entered the semi-finals of the Magomed Salam Umakhanov Memorial International Boxing Tournament in Kaspiysk, Russia. India Open gold medallist Neeraj (57kg) and former world youth bronze-medallist Jony (60kg) were the other two to make the semi-finals on Wednesday night.

A bronze-medallist from the Strandja Memorial Cup earlier this year, Lovlina defeated Russia’s Anastasiya Sigaeva 5-0 to be assured of a medal. She will next take on Belarus’ Alina Veber for a place in the final. Pooja rebounded from a shock loss at the India Open in May with a 4-1 victory over Russia’s Laura Mamedkulova. Neeraj also secured a 4-1 win over Russian Sayana Sagataeva. Jony clinched a 5-0 win over Belarus’ Anastasiya Obushenkova.

Former Commonwealth Games bronze-medallist Pinki Jangra (51kg) was the only one among the Indian women to bow out in the quarter-final stage. The 2018 India Open champion suffered a 0-5 loss to Belarus’ Yuliya Apanasovich.