Shiva, Sarita, Amit among 5 Indians in quarterfinals

Bangkok, April 21 

Shiva Thapa is just one win away from securing a record fourth medal by entering the 60kg quarterfinals, along with four other Indians, on the third day of the Asian Championships. Thapa outpunched Kyrgyzstan’s Seitbek Uulu 4-1 to march into the quarterfinals. Sarita Devi blanked South Korea’s Gwon Sujin to storm into the quarterfinals after a Referee Stopped Contest (RSC) decision in Round 3 as she was too dominant for her opponent. 

Amit Panghal made it to the last-8 stage with a 5-0 decimation of Taipei’s Tu Po-Wei in his 52kg category bout.

Nikhat Zareen (51kg) was at her imperious best in her opening bout against Cambodia’s Srey Pov Nao. The Telangana pugilist advanced to the quarterfinals by a RSC decision in Round 2 as her rival could not contain the flurry of punches. Ashish (69kg) continued his scintillating run of form with a strong 4-1 win over Abdurakhman Abdurakhmanov of Kyrgyzstan in a split verdict to book his quarterfinal berth. 

Brijesh Yadav (81kg) lost to Dilshodbek Ruzmetov of Uzbekistan 0-4 after he received a cut in Round 2 of the bout. That necessitated termination of the bout and based on the two rounds of performances, the judges ruled in favour of the Uzbek. On Monday, Sonia Chahal (57kg) will continue her medal hunt against North Korea’s Jo Son Hwa in the quarterfinals. Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) will take on Taipei’s Chen Nien-Chin in the last-8 clash. Kavinder Singh Bisht (56kg) will aim to lay his hands on yet another medal. 

Also in action on Monday will be Makran Cup gold medallist Deepak (49kg) and veteran Seema Poonia (+81kg). — PTI