New Delhi, Nov 18 (UNI) Five-time World Boxing Champion Mary Kom (48kg), Mainsha Maun (54kg) progressed into quarter-finals beating their respective opponents at the onging Women's World Boxing Championship here in the capital at the KD Jhadav Hall on Sunday, while Sarita Devi crashed out.
Sarita Devi lost by a split decision (3:2) to Ireland's Kellie Anne Harrington in the lightweight category (60kg) preliminary round.
Mary defeated Kazakhstan’s Aigerim Kassenayeva in the second round and was declared the winner after all five judges scored in her favour following an intense three-round bout while Manisha Maun comprehensively won by an unanimous 5-0 decision beating World Champion Dina Zholaman of Kazakhstan.
With this win, Kom continued her good run against Kassenayeva as earlier, she had comprehensively beaten the Kazakh boxer in the final of the Silesian Open in Poland.
Mary will be hoping to aim for her sixth World Championship title, will next take on China's Yu Wu in the last eight of the competition on Tuesday.
After her win, Mary said, "there is pressure specially at big event like world championship, but I am now habitual to it, whenever I enter the ring my confidence level is high. I am happy to start on a winning note, but still there is a long way to go and ready to face any challenges."
In other bouts on Sunday, Lovlina Borgohain 69 kg defeated Panama's Atheyna Bylon by an unanimous 5-0 decision to progress to the pre-quarters and Bhagyabati Kachar 81 kg also marched to quarters beating Germany's Irina-Nicoletta Schonberger by a 4-1 split decision.
Mainsha won her bout beating Dina 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, 29-28, 29-28 and has captured her position in the last 8 round. Manisha is one step away from bronze medal.
After winning her bout Manisha said, "I fought confidently, and once I enter the ring, it dosen't matter to me whether you are facing World Champion or winner of bronze medallist."
Manisha had earlier qualified for the pre-quarterfinals after defeating Christina Cruz of the United States also by an unanimous decision.
UNI NC1909