New Delhi, March 19
Continuing her giant-killing run, Indian boxer Nikhat Zareen today stunned two-time world champion Nazym Kyzaibay of Kazakhstan to enter the women’s 51kg semifinals at the Bosphorus Boxing Tournament in Istanbul.
Zareen, who had defeated 2019 world champion Paltceva Ekaterina of Russia in the pre-quarterfinals, looked unfazed and confident against her opponent from Kazakhstan.
She stamped her authority right from the beginning and prevailed 4-1 over Kyzaibay, a gold medallist at the 2014 and 2016 World Championships.
Reigning Commonwealth Games champion Gaurav Solanki also sailed into the semifinals after a tough contest against local pugilist Aykol Mizan in the men’s 57kg. Both the boxers attacked throughout the bout but Solanki showed his technical supremacy to secure a 4-1 win.
Among other women boxers, Sonia Lather (57kg), Parveen (60kg) and Jyoti (69kg) lost in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Shiva Thapa lost to Turkey’s Hakan Dogan in the men’s 63kg event. — PTI
