Haryana’s Narwal, Sachin in quarters

New Delhi, April 18

India’s Poonam entered the semifinals of the women’s 57kg category while five of her compatriots advanced to the quarterfinals of boxing’s Youth World Championships with comfortable victories in their last-16 stage bouts in Kielce, Poland. Poonam eliminated Kazakhstan’s Nazerke Serik by unanimous decision in the quarterfinals. She will next face a tough opponent in Sitora Turdibekova of Uzbekistan.

Asian junior champion Biswamitra Chongtham led the Indian boxers’ charge in the men’s section by outclassing Khosroshahi Parvizi 5-0 to enter the 49kg quarterfinals. The Manipuri pugilist looked in complete control against the Irish boxer as he began well and carried on with the momentum before finishing the bout in his favour.

Ankit Narwal also secured a place in the last-eight stage along with Uttar Pradesh’s Vishal Gupta (91kg) and Bhiwani’s Sachin (56kg).

Haryana lad Narwal defeated Polish boxer Oliwier Zamojski with a 4-1 split decision in the men’s 64kg category. However, Gupta and Sachin comfortably registered identical 5-0 victories against Croatia’s Borna Loncaric and Jose Valdez of Colombia, respectively.

In the women’s section, Gitika (48kg), who came into the match after beating European champion Diana Ermakova, continued her impressive form, notching up a flawless 5-0 triumph against Kazakhstan’s Arailym Marat to progress into the last-eight stage.

However, the campaign of Nisha Gurjar (64kg) ended after a 1-4 loss to Latvia’s Beatrise Rozentale. — TNS, agencies