Manisha rocks on debut

Vinayak Padmadeo
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 16

American coach Ronald Simms praised the Indian women’s team high performance director Raffaele Bergamasco and coach Shiv Singh for helping Manisha Moun get past the first hurdle in the World Boxing Championships.

During practice on Thursday, the coaching staff was busy explaining to Manisha a plan to counter USA’s Christina Cruz, who is a two-time Worlds medallist. It was a simple plan to stay away from Cruz’s right hook, use the left jab combination on her guard and to counter with her powerful right if Cruz lowers the guard to attack.

Manisha aced the strategy and her more experienced competitor with a 5-0 unanimous verdict to move into the next round in the 54kg weight class.

Simms, who is employed by the JJSW Group that supports Manisha, saw the fighton TV and was very much impressed by her movements in the ring. “It was beautiful, beautiful, the way she moved and stayed away,” Simms told the Indian contingent as they trudged in to the practice area after the bout.

Manisha, who hails from Kaithal, said that a right hook from her opponent early in the first round made her alert. “She connected with a right early, afterwards, I kept away from danger with back steps,” she said.

“It took me a minute to understand her strategy and then I took it over from there. I had to win the first round as it enhances the chances of winning the bout in the judges’ eyes. Once that was done, it was easy for me. I didn’t do much in the third round. I did not get tired also,” she added.

Next up she has a date with the reigning world champion Dina Zholaman, who defeated Japan’s Mizuki Hiruta. Manisha had got the better of the Kazakh boxer at the Silesian Open Boxing Tournament in Poland early this year.

Sarita through too

L Sarita Devi advanced to the round of 32 in the 60kg weight class after a tough win over two-time Worlds medallist Switzerland’s Diana Brugger 4-0 on points. Sarita outscored the Swiss in the first round and then forced a standing count on her opponent after landing a hard right. But she looked tired in the third round. “She (Swiss boxer) is a very experienced boxer and she was on the attack from the first round and it was a tough for me to control her. Overall, it was a tough bout,” she said.

Sarita next fights 2016 World Championships silver medallist Kellie Harrington of Ireland.

Kosovo fallout: India could lose 2021 Worlds 

The International Boxing Federation (AIBA) has threatened to take back its decision to give the hosting rights of the men’s 2021 World Boxing Championships to India. In a statement on Friday, AIBA president Gafur Rahimov has said that the body will reconsider, and if need be, reopen the bidding process for the 2021 championships after the Indian government denied Kosovo boxer Donjeta Sadiku visa for the Women’s World Boxing Championships. “It is very unfortunate that the Government of India has taken the regrettable political decision of not allowing an athlete to achieve her dream of competing at the World Championships,” he said. “Therefore, AIBA will study the appropriate actions and ensure that this situation never happens again, including the possibility to re-open the bidding process for the AIBA 2021 Men’s World Boxing Championships due to take place in India,” he added. BFI president Ajay Singh, however, hoped that they will be able to find a solution. — TNS