Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Ho Chi Minh City,
MC Mary Kom led the charge by assuring herself of a sixth medal at the women’s Asian Boxing Championships as three Indians entered the semifinals of the continental showpiece event today.
Advancing to the medal round were Mary Kom (48kg), Shiksha (54kg) and Priyanka Chaudhary (60kg).
Mary Kom defeated Chinese Taipei’s Meng-Chieh Pin in a split verdict in the light flyweight category quarterfinals. The 34-year-old will face Japan’s Tsubasa Komura in the semifinals on Tuesday.
This would be Mary Kom’s first medal in more than a year and a massive confidence-booster for the boxer who could not qualify for the Olympics last year.
Shiksha went all out against Uzbekistan’s Ferangiz Khoshimova and hardly gave her any breathing space. This unrelenting aggression eventually secured Shiksha a unanimous verdict. Shiksha will face Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu-Ting in the semifinals.
Priyanka too was dominant in her clash against Sri Lanka’s Dulanjani Lankapurayalage and had no trouble in earning a 5-0 victory.
Saweety Boora (75kg) bowed out after losing 0-5 to Rio Olympics bronze medallist Li Qian. Earlier, Seema Punia had earned herself a medal in the +81kg category as she turned out to be one of only four boxers in the semi-finals.
