Astha enters quarters, Shashi in last 16

Guwahati, November 20 

India’s campaign got off to a reasonably good start as Astha Pahwa (69kg) entered the quarterfinals while Shashi Chopra (57kg) made it to the last-16 stage after winning their opening bouts at the AIBA Women’s Youth World Championships here today.

However, Vanlalhriatpuii (60kg) bowed out after losing her opening bout.

Astha defeated Melis Yonuzova of Bulgaria, while Shashi defeated Uzbekistan’s Durdonakhon Rakhmatova by a unanimous verdict. 

Vanlalhriatpuii went down to South Korea’s Im Aeji in a split verdict.

Shashi was in action in the first session and eased past Rakhmatova. Shashi put her opponent on the back foot using the double jab and following it up with left-right-left combinations.

She managed to connect a powerful left hook on the temple of Rakhmatova, which got the Uzbek a standing count.

“I am very happy with my first-round victory. I was confident that I could win the bout if I stuck to my game plan and not allow my opponent to score points. I also kept my punches straight and struck effectively,” Shashi said.

Shashi, a gold medallist at the Balkan Youth International Championship, will next face Chinese Taipei’s Lin Li Wei-Yi, who got a first-round bye.

In the evening session, Vanlalhriatpuii, also a reigning national champion, was up against a quick-moving and aggressive Aeji.

The Korean broke through Vanlalhriatpuii’s defence quite early. Though the Indian fought back in the closing three minutes, the bout had already tilted decisively in Aeji’s favour.

Aeji will next face Bulgaria’s Mehmedova Aslahan Sezgin in her pre-quarterfinal bout. — PTI