Sarita Devi, Nandini bow out of AIBA World Boxing Championships
Former world champion Sarita failed to maintain the aggression throughout the bout.
India’s veteran boxer Laishram Sarita Devi bowed of the 2019 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships in Ulan-Ude, Russia following a unanimous (0-5) loss to Russia’s Natalia Shadrina on Sunday.
Later, Nandini too suffered a similar fate in her light heavyweight (81kg) bout against Germany’s Irina-Nicoletta Schonberger.
Inconsistent approach
Turning out in the lightweight (60kg) category, Sarita Devi got off to an excellent start but failed to keep the momentum going.
Connecting perfect jabs in the final minute of the opening round, the fourth-seeded Indian managed to hold her ground while in defence, but a second-round slip-up cost her a place in the next round.
Compensating for the errors she made in the first round, Shadrina looked more competitive in the second round and forced Sarita into a faux pas. While looking for an opening, the Indian veteran found herself at the receiving end of a flurry of punches. A magnificent uppercut soon followed after a fine body shot, which stunned Sarita in the closing stage of the second round.
Having rained in heavy blows, Shadrina turned the tie on its head with an exemplary third round show - enough to persuade four of the five judges to score the contest 29-28 in her favour.
Off-target
20-year-old Indian debutant Nandini could not fare any better against Germany's Irina-Nicoletta Schonberger, going down to defeat by a unanimous 5-0 verdict.
There was plenty of spirit and aggression on Nandini's part, but the technique and tactical superiority was in the hands of the German.
Nandini's cause was not helped by an official warning in the second round for punching the back of Schonberger's head.
The judges scored it 29-27, 30-26, 30-26, 30-26, 29-27 to hand Schonberger a passage to the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Indian legend MC Mary Kom will hit the ring for her first bout at the 2019 World Championships on October 8. The Indian is eyeing an unprecedented seventh World title a the Ulan-Ude event.