Taking inspiration from Indian Olympic boxer Mary Kom, a budding Kashmiri pugilist is breaking all stereotypes in the state.
World Championships bronze medallist Sonia Lather also kickstarted her campaign on a winning note. The Haryana pugilist dominated Rosorio Milogros of Argentina for a 5-0 victory in the women's 57 kg category.
India Amit Panghal (52kg) bowed out of the Olympics boxing after a surprising 1-4 defeat to Rio Games silver-medallist Yuberjen Martinez in the pre-quarter-finals, on Saturday.
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India's woman boxer Sarita Devi is facing an International Boxing Association (AIBA) probe for returning her Asian Games bronze medal during the podium ceremony with the world governing body's supervisor describing her act as "regretful".
The International Boxing Association (AIBA) might have allowed professional boxers to compete in the Olympics but India's biggest pro star Vijender Singh will not be seen in the Rio de Janeiro Games as he hasn't been left with any time or chance to make the cut. In a landmark decision, AIBA today threw the Olympic doors open for professional boxers after an extraordinary congress in Lausanne, Switzerland voted overwhelmingly in favour of the move. The decision has, however, been met with a mixed response with some like Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis calling it "foolish" and "preposterous" while others like Amir Khan welcoming the step. In India, AIBA's decision brought the focus on Olympic medallist Vijender, who turned professional last year. The 30-year-old, a former amateur world No.1 in middleweight, is enjoying an unbeaten run in his pro career and is scheduled to fight for the WBO Asia title belt on July 16 in the national capital.
Nikhat's form augurs well for India with the Olympics coming up next year.
Asian Games gold-medallist Vikas Krishan assured himself of an extra shot at Olympic qualification in style, beating Kenya's Nickson Abaka in a gruelling six-round contest of the AIBA Pro Boxing fight night.
Rounding off a reasonably successful campaign for India, Shamjetsabam Sarjubala (48kg) and Pinki Jangra (51kg) clinched god medals.
The 26-year-old boxer is aiming to become India's first boxer with three back-to-back Asian Games medals.
Sports Authority of India rejected reports on Friday that minor boxers were subjected to pregnancy tests in a camp for the World Championships this month, saying that the squad does not have a single under-18 in its ranks.
Indian boxers L Devendro Singh (49kg) and Gaurav Bidhuri (52kg) will be pulling in some punches in the upcoming season of the World Series of Boxing, after grabbing two-year contracts with Polish and Italian franchises.
Nitu beat Italy's Erika Prisciandaro, a former Youth World Championship bronze-medallist, 5-0, while Zareen outpunched Ukraine's Tetiana Kob, a three-time European Championships medallist, 4-1.
Where stalwarts like MC Mary Kom failed, Sonia Lather brought home a medal.
''I want to send my parents for Umrah because Ramazan is going on.'
The boxers hardly broke a sweat while scooping all the seven gold medals up for grabs, while the shooters ended their campaign with an outstanding tally of 25 gold medals to ensure India's reign at the top remained unchecked in the 12th South Asian Games in Guwahati on Monday. On the penultimate day of competition, the Indian was perched at the top with 289 medals (173 gold, 86 silver and 30 bronze).
Deepak clinched one of the most memorable wins of his career with a 4-1 win over more fancied Zoirov
Mary Kom will have to fight in the higher 51kg class if she wants to compete in next year's Tokyo Games.
Sakshi notched a 5-0 unanimous decision win against Zhazira Urakbayeva of Kazakhstan to advance to the quarter-finals of the Women's World Boxing Championships
It was a promise made one year ago, after he struck gold at the Commonwealth Games but boxer Manoj Kumar, who is now also assured of a berth in next year's London Olympics, is still waiting to be promoted in Indian Railways.
The "burden" of qualification off his back, star Indian boxer Vijender Singh is now gearing up to shoulder a fresh burden -- the one of heightened expectations -- when he appears in his third successive Olympic Games in London in July-August.
Teen boxers Shiva Thapa and Sumit Sangwan struck gold on Thursday, rounding off a brilliant performance by India at the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Astana, Kazakhstan. The country bagged three berths to the London Games from the tournament to make it an unprecedented seven-strong contingent for the quadrennial extravaganza.
Indian boxing's biggest names are demanding an all systems reboot to halt the sport's decline after a medal-less Olympic campaign in Rio and their roadmap goes beyond having the much-delayed national federation.
As he gears up to chase his 'London Dreams' with the first Olympic qualifiers next month, star Indian boxer Vijender Singh is not just working hard on his game, he is also trying to figure out an all-new system of scoring that has left him "confused".
In the third round, Thapa attacked Usmonov relentlessly as the Tajak fell on the canvas within the first few seconds following which the referee gave him the count.
It was a good day for Indian boxers on Wednesday as Manpreet Singh and Vijender Singh reached the final of men's 91kg competition and 75 kg competition respectively at the Asian Games in Guangzhou.
Top seed Vikas Krishan (75kg) and fourth seed Shiva Thapa (60kg) were among the four Indian boxers who qualified for the World Championships and assured themselves of medals by advancing to the Asian Championships semi-finals, in Tashkent, on Wednesday.
Nitu has been in supreme form throughout the tournament, winning her first three bouts by RSC (referee stops contest).
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Saturday
Boxer Shiv Thapa settled for a silver as he went down fighting to Cuban world champion Ramirez Robeisy Aloy in the bantam weight final on the penultimate day of the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore on Wednesday.
Vijender Singh, India's first ever Olympic medal winner in boxing, speaks about his plans for the mega event, and why he thinks he can win a gold medal this time.
Five-time world champion M C Mary Kom entered the final in the 48 kg classs at the Commonwealth Games, beating Sri Lanka's Anusha Dilrukshi , on Wednesday.
Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year twice in a row.
India's boxers Govind Sahani (48kg), Ananta Pralhad Chopde (54kg) and Sumit (75kg) struck gold at the Thailand Open in Phuket, notching up comprehensive wins in their respective bouts on Saturday.
'Mary dominated but the scoring did not go in her favour. I think she was robbed of a bout.'
Third seed Satish Kumar (+91kg) and sixth seed Manoj Kumar (69kg) were among the three Indian boxers who qualified for the World Championships after winning their respective box-offs at the Asian Championships in Tashkent, on Sunday.
PV Sindhu, Depika Padukone ensured Indian representation on the global front.
In a tough final bout, the 22-year-old Indian boxer didn't get bogged down and kept landing his punches even as the Uzbek tried to overpower him.
Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar discussed the way forward for L Sarita Devi with Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday and urged the entire country to support the woman boxer who is facing a possible life ban from the International Boxing Association for refusing her bronze medal at the Incheon Asian Games.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated MC Mary Kom for winning a record sixth gold medal in the Women's World Championships on Saturday.
Village residents are asked to eat alone to avoid spreading potentially contagious droplets. Each seat is screened off with plexiglass.
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