India Secures Two More Medals as Pooja Rani, Jaismine Enter Semifinals at World Boxing Championships

Liverpool: India’s impressive run at the World Boxing Championships continued on Thursday with Pooja Rani and Jaismine Lamboria storming into the semifinals, assuring the country of two additional medals.

In a thrilling women’s 80kg quarterfinal, two-time Asian champion Pooja Rani overcame a tough challenge from Poland’s Emilia Koterska, winning 3:2 on points. While Koterska edged the opening round, Pooja fought back in the second and then adopted a cautious strategy to seal victory.

By contrast, World Boxing Cup Astana gold medallist Jaismine dominated her women’s 57kg quarterfinal against Uzbekistan’s Mamajonova Khumorabonu, cruising to a 5:0 unanimous decision. The Indian outclassed her opponent right from the start and never looked back.

Earlier, Nupur became the first Indian boxer to confirm a medal after advancing to the women’s 80+kg semifinals. With Pooja and Jaismine now through, India has three medals guaranteed, with hopes of adding more.

The 20-member Indian squad is still eyeing further success, as Meenakshi (48kg) and Jadumani Singh Mandengbam (50kg) head into their quarterfinal bouts on Friday.

On the flip side, it was disappointment for former world champion Nikhat Zareen and Abhinash Jamwal. Nikhat fought valiantly but lost to Turkey’s Olympic silver medallist Cakiroglu Buse Naz in the women’s 51kg quarterfinals, while Jamwal went down 1:4 against Georgia’s Guruli Lasha, the Paris Olympics bronze medallist, in the men’s 65kg division.

India’s campaign, however, remains strong, with its boxers aiming to convert semifinal spots into gold as the championships move into the final stages.