City pugilists out of title race

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 5 

Haryana’s Savita stunned city’s Manisha with a 4-1 verdict in the 54kg semifinal bout, on the penultimate day of the 3rd Elite Women's National Boxing Championship, at the Inspire Institute of Sport, at Vijayanagara, on Saturday. In another blow to the local hopes, Neetu of Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) defeated Avneet Kaur. Neetu won the match in the second round after referee stopped the bout.   

Meanwhile, S Kalaivani of Tamil Nadu and Nikhat Zareen of Telangana entered the finals in their respective weight categories. Railways' Sonia Lather, too, entered the final, beating Sandhyarani Devi of AIP 4-1, while Shashi Chopra of Haryana downed Manipur's KH Shamim Banu 5-0 to clash in the 57kg class final on Sunday. 

Earlier, Haryana's Pinki Jangra had little difficulty in putting it across her Railways rival Meenakshi. Pinki won the semifinal bout 5-0 and looks favourite for the title against Nikhat Zareen. The best bout of the day was witnessed in the light fly class, with Kalavani taking on Haryana's Sanju. 

The Haryana girl, with an open guard, invited the opponent to charge at her, and Kalavani did precisely that and landed quite a few combination blows, hitting the target areas. 

For Nikhat, it became too easy as the Telangana boxer was far superior to her AIP opponent. Though she slowed down a bit in the second and third rounds, she had the measure of Vanlai Dauti which helped her move into the final. Pinki Rani, meanwhile, defeated Railways' Meenakshi on points, while Simranjit Kaur outpunched Basanti Chanu of AIP. Assam's Lovlina defeated Meemthoi Devi of All India Police 5-0 on points to make it to the final.