Senior National Boxing: World champion Minakshi, Nikhat, Hitesh ease into semis
New Delhi, January 8
The country's top boxers including world champion Minakshi Hooda, two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen, World Boxing Cup gold medallist Hitesh Gulia and others sailed into the semi-finals of the Elite Men and Women National Boxing Championships with easy wins in their respective quarterfinal bouts in Greater Noida.
This is the first time that the men's and women's National Championships are being held simultaneously at the same venue at Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, and 600 boxers from across the country are participating in 10 weight categories each for men and women, as per a press release from the Boxing Federation of India (BFI).
Minakshi (women's 45-48kg) of All India Police defeated Kashish Mehta of Punjab 5:0, while Nikhat (48-51kg) blanked Manipur's Lanchenbee Chanu Tongbram by an identical margin.
In the men's 65-70kg quarterfinals, Hitesh defeated Punjab's Tejaswi 5:0 to advance to the semifinals. World Boxing Cup Finals silver medallist Pawan Bartwal (men's 50-55kg), Jadumani Singh (50-55kg) and Sachin (55-60kg) all earned unanimous decisions in their semifinal bouts.
While Pawan defeated Tyson of Arunachal Pradesh, Jadumani defeated Nikhil (Punjab), and Sachin beat UP's Karan.
In the women's 51-54kg quarterfinals, Preeti defeated Harmeet Kaur Virk of Punjab 5:0, while Sakshi got the better of Poonam of RSPB 4:1.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great to see the men's and women's championships held together. It's more efficient and promotes equality in the sport. Kudos to BFI for this initiative. Hitesh Gulia's performance was clinical!
600 boxers is a massive number! Shows the depth of talent we have across the country. From Punjab to Manipur to Arunachal Pradesh – truly a national event. Jai Hind!
Impressive wins all around, especially the unanimous decisions. It shows superior skill and strategy. Hoping this form continues into the Paris Olympics. Go Team India!
While the wins are fantastic, I hope the coverage goes beyond just the results. Would love to read more about the journey of these athletes, the training, and the stories from smaller states. The article feels a bit like a score sheet.
Nikhat Zareen is on another level! Two-time world champion and still crushing it at nationals. She's an inspiration for every young girl wanting to take up sports. More power to her! 💪
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