Young Indian boxer Manisha Maun sent reigning world champion Dina Zhalaman of Kazakhstan packing with another authoritative win in 54kg to place herself a step away from grabbing a maiden medal in the AIBA Women's World Championships in New Delhi on Sunday.
Two other Indians, Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) and Kachari Bhagyabati (81kg), also made it to the quarter-finals with 5-0 and 4-1 wins on points in their respective pre-quarterfinal bouts.
The 20-year-old Manisha won a 5-0 unanimous verdict against her more experienced rival in a pre-quarterfinal bout in her maiden World Championships. This was the second win for the Haryana girl against Zholaman, having beaten the Kazakh boxer in the Silesian Women's Boxing Championship in Poland earlier this year.
In the quarter-finals, Manisha faces top seed and 2016 World Championships silver medallist Stoyka Petrova of Bulgaria.
For me, once I am inside the ring it does not matter whether my opponent is a world champion or a silver medallist. I play my game and do what the coaches told me. So, my approach will be the same in my next bout also.Manisha Maun
"Today (Sunday), like in my first bout, I played from a distance but I played faster and more aggressive. It was a good bout," said Manisha.
Borgohain, an Asian Championships bronze medallist last year, had a tougher fight against 2014 World Championships gold winner Atheyna Bylon of Panama. It was a physical and aggressive fight and both the boxers fell on the floor on more than one occasions.
The 21-year-old Assamese next faces Scott Kaye Frances of Australia in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
It was a tough fight for me. My opponent was tall and strong also. The fitness regime we had at the national camp helped me. I am happy to have won my first World Championships bout.Lovlina Borgohain
"My next opponent from Australia, I had done some sparring and I know something about her. I hope to win my next bout," said Borgohain.
For Bhagyabati, it was even tougher against a taller opponent in Irina-Nicoletta Schonberger of Germany. But the Indian also turned out winner in her debut World Championships bout.
My opponent was taller than me and so the coaches had told me to keep it low. If I had tried to hit high it would have exposed me and I may have received punches. My strategy paid off.Kachari Bhagyabati
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