Nikhat Zareen stuns world champion to enter Bosphorus boxing quarters
Six Indian boxers, including Nikhat Zareen and Olympian Shiva Thapa, are in contention for a medal in Istanbul.
India’s Nikhat Zareen upset reigning world champion Ekaterina Paltceva at the Bosphorus boxing tournament in Istanbul on Wednesday to progress to the quarter-finals of the women’s 51kg event.
Russia’s Ekaterina Paltceva had won the women’s light-flyweight gold medal at the 2019 world boxing championships. She is also a former European champion.
Nikhat Zareen, an Asian Championships bronze medallist, however, dominated Ekaterina throughout the bout and won 5-0.
The Indian boxer will go up against Kazakhstan’s Nazym Kyzaibay – a two-time world champion - in the quarter-finals.
Joining Nikhat Zareen in the final eight on Wednesday were Shiva Thapa (men’s 63kg), Parveen (women’s 60kg) and Sonia Lather (women’s 57kg).
Shiva Thapa, a two-time Olympian and world championships bronze medallist, edged past Kazakhstan’s Smagulov Baghtiyov by a 3-2 split decision, while both Sonia Lather and Parveen cruised past their Turkish opponents Tugcenaz Surmeneli and Esra Ozyol respectively by unanimous verdicts.
Former world championships silver-medallist Sonia Lather had beaten Argentina’s Rosorio Milogros comfortably in her first-round bout**.**
Gaurav Solanki (men’s 57kg) was already in the quarters, courtesy his win over Kazakhstan Arapov Aidos on the opening day of the competition.
Meanwhile, Duryodhan Negi (men’s 69kg), Brijesh Yadav (men’s 81kg) and Krishan Sharma (men’s +91kg) all bowed out after losses in their respective preliminary rounds.
The third day of the event will feature six Indian boxers fighting in the quarter-finals. Sonia Lather, Nikhat Zareen, Parveen and Jyoti Grewal (69kg) will be in action in the women’s category while Shiva Thapa and Gaurav Solanki will present Indian challenge in the men’s category.
India has sent a 13-member contingent to the tournament in Turkey.