In all, eight Indian boxers - four women and four men - advanced to the medal rounds on Day Two of quarter-finals
Shiva Thapa, Sarita Devi and Nikhat Zareen
Shiva Thapa (60kg) secured himself an unprecedented fourth successive medal, while veteran L Sarita Devi (60kg) made the semi-finals for the first time in nearly a decade to continue India's stupendous run at the Asian Boxing Championships here yesterday.
In all, eight Indian boxers - four women and four men - advanced to the medal rounds on Day Two of quarter-finals. Shiva, 25, defeated Thailand's Rujakran Juntrong in a one-sided contest, winning 5-0. He has a tough semi-final lined up against Kazakhstan's Zakir Safiullin, a silver-medallist from the 2015 edition. Thapa had won a gold in 2013, a bronze in 2015 and a silver in the 2017 edition of the marquee continental event. He is the first Indian to achieve the incredible feat.
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In the women's draw, former world champion Sarita, who last reached the Asian semis back in 2010 and ended with a gold, defeated Kazakhstan's Rimma Volossenko in a split decision to advance.
Former junior world champion Nikhat Zareen (51kg) too booked her maiden semi-final berth at the tournament, beating Kazakhstan's Nazym Kyzaibay in the quarters. Last edition's silver-medallist Manisha (54kg) also secured herself at least a bronze by defeating Filipino Petecio Zzaa Nice, while former national champion Simranjit Kaur (64kg) edged past a gritty Ha Thi Linh of Vietnam to make the last four.
Joining Thapa in the men's semi-finals were Commonwealth Games silver-medallist Satish Kumar (+91kg), Ashish Kumar (75kg) and Ashish (69kg). Ashish Kumar got the better of Kyrgyzstan's Omerbek Uulu Behzhigit in a unanimous verdict, while his namesake trounced Vietnam's Tran Duc Tho 5-0, displaying an impeccable counter-attacking game. In the evening session, Satish out-punched Korean Kim Dohyeon, an exhausting showdown that left the Indian with a cut above his right eye.
Also read: Asian Boxing Championship: India's Pooja Rani assured of medal
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