Sarjubala, Seema in quarters

Astana (Kazakhstan), May 23 

Second seed and previous edition’s silver-medallist Sarjubala Devi (48kg) and Seema Poonia (+81kg) advanced to the quarterfinals as India rounded off a reasonably good day at the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships here today. 

Jolted by the ouster of Olympics berth hopefuls Mary Kom (51kg), Sarita Devi (60kg) and Pooja Rani (75kg), the Indian contingent finally had a reason to smile after Sarjubala and Seema advanced in the non-Olympics categories.

Sarjubala, a former junior world champion, gave a perfect start by pummelling Sri Lanka’s Erandi Kaluhath 3-0. The Manipuri boxer was not stretched much in the bout as Kaluhath looked intimidated from the very first round. The 22-year-old Indian kept a tight grip on the proceedings, unleashing accurately-placed jabs to be the judges’ unanimous choice. She will face Kazakhstan’s Nazym Kyzaibay, who defeated Sweden’s Lise Sandebjer 3-0, in the quarters.

Seema was equally dominant in her win over Azerbaijan’s Aynur Rzayeva, who was sluggish for most part of the bout and was no match for the attacking Indian.  Seema will take on China’s Shijin Wang in the last-16 stage. Wang got the better of Uzebekistan’s Guzal Ismatova in the pre-quarters.

Pavitra’s (64kg) campaign, however, came to a halt after she went down to Australia’s Skye Nicolson. The prestigious event is the final Olympics qualifying event for women boxers in three weight categories. — PTI