Mary Kom, Sakshi enter finals of Asian Championships

Olympic-bound M C Mary Kom (51kg) and former youth world champion Sakshi (54kg) had been amongst three Indian ladies boxers who stormed into the Asian Championship finals after notching up thrilling victories of their last-four stage bouts right here on Thursday.
While six-time world champion Mary Kom prevailed 4-1 over Mongolia’s Lutsaikhan Altantsetseg, two-time youth world champion Sakshi upstaged top-seeded Kazakh Dina Zholaman 3-2.

@MangteC storms into the ultimate of the Asian Championships. Watch the @AIBA legend as she punches her technique to glory. Watch out for her timing and the way she dislodges her opponent. @BFI_official @AjaySingh_SG pic.twitter.com/00KOF33C6l
— Debojo Maharshi (@debojo_m) May 27, 2021
It was a memorable event debut for Lalbuatsaihi (64kg), who outboxed Noura Almutairi of Kuwait to such an extent that she determined to concede the bout within the second spherical. Next up for the boxer from Nagaland is Milana Safronova of Kazakhstan.
However, the Tokyo-bound duo of Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) and Simranjit Kaur (60kg) together with Monika (48kg) and debutant Jaismine (57kg) settled for bronze medals after shedding their respective semifinal bouts.
Monika went down 0-5 to second seeded Alua Balkibekova of Kazakhstan, whereas Jaismine too was bested in a unanimous verdict by one other Kazakh in Vladislava Kukhta.
Simranjit, who lately recovered from COVID-19, additionally misplaced to a Kazakh, Rimma Volossenko, in a unanimous verdict. Lovlina was overwhelmed by Navabakhor Khamidova of Uzbekistan in a break up determination.
In distinction, the top-seeded Mary Kom dug from her big reservoir of expertise to outwit the sprightly Altantsetseg.
“It has taken a lot to adjust to the humid weather here. Today, I was a bit slow in the first round but got my rhythm from the second round onwards. I had already fought her once so it didn’t take much to understand her gameplan,” Mary Kom informed PTI.
The veteran’s proper hooks had been significantly spectacular in a compelling efficiency. She fought with a perilously low guard regardless of the aggressive intent proven by her rival and relied on her sharp reflexes to attain on counter-attacks.
“The guard wasn’t needed, I knew her quite well,” she quipped.
The 38-year-old will now be gunning for her sixth gold medal on the continental showpiece. She will likely be up towards Kazakhstan’s Nazym Kyzaibay, a two-time world champion.
“I have faced Nazym earlier and have even defeated her in a couple of past tournaments. Let’s see what’s the challenge I get this time,” stated Mary Kom.

Top seed #MaryKom (51kg) defeated #LutsaikhanAltantsetseg of Mongolia 4-1 within the semi remaining of the Asian Boxing Championships and ensured not less than a silver medal@tapascancer pic.twitter.com/ldwtStRdKZ
— DD News (@DDNewsdwell) May 27, 2021
Sakshi additionally endured a troublesome one towards Zholaman however got here out trumps, using on her grit. She will face Uzbekistan’s Sitora Shogdarova within the summit conflict.
Earlier, in an intense contest, Monika simply couldn’t maintain tempo with Balkibekova, who craftily dodged the Indian’s assaults and related some eye-catching mixture punches to dominate the proceedings.
On Wednesday night time, the Olympic-bound Ashish Kumar (75kg) misplaced 2-3 to Asian Games silver-medallist Abilkhan Amankul of Kazakhstan within the quarterfinal.
Also taking place within the quarters was Narender (+91kg). He misplaced 0-5 to Kazakhstan’s Kamshibek Kunkabayev.
On Friday, 5 Indian males — Amit Panghal (52kg), Varinder Singh (60kg), Shiva Thapa (64kg), Vikas krishan (69kg) and Sanjeet (91kg) — will combat it out within the semifinals.
Of these, Panghal and Krishan are sure for Tokyo Olympics.
India have secured an unprecedented 15 medals within the event.