Shiva, Hussamuddin, Sonia in semis

New Delhi, January 23

Shiva Thapa (63kg) and Sonia Lather (57kg) assured themselves of medals at the Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament by advancing to the semifinals in Sofia. Joining them was Mohammad Hussamuddin (57kg). He outpunched Ireland’s Kurt Walker 5-0 to make the medal rounds.

Sonia clinched a 3-2 triumph over Ireland’s Michaela Walsh to enter the last-4 stage. Thapa got the better of Ireland’s George Bates in his quarterfinal clash.

However, defending champion Nikhat Zareen (51kg) bowed out. The former junior world champion was beaten 2-3 by American Christina Cruz. Zareen had claimed gold at the previous edition.

India offers to host Olympics qualifiers

New Delhi: The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has offered to host next month’s Olympics qualifying tournament, which has been cancelled in the Chinese city of Wuhan following the outbreak of Coronavirus. The qualifiers are scheduled from February 3 to 15 but the schedule has now become uncertain following the health crisis in Wuhan, which has so far claimed 17 lives and infected over 550 people. “…due to any reason, if the event is to be shifted to a different country, BFI would be willing to host this Asian and Oceania Qualification Event 2020,” BFI president Ajay Singh stated in a letter to the chairman of the International Olympic Committee’s Task Force (Boxing), Morinari Watanabe. — PTI