DUBAI: Four Indian boxers, including three women, advanced to the semifinals with impressive victories as India’s assured medal tally swelled to 12 in the Asian Championships here.
Sanjeet (91kg), Sakshi (54kg), Jaismine (57kg) and the Olympic-bound Simranjit Kaur (60kg) joined Shiva Thapa (64kg) in the last-four stage following late-night wins in their quarterfinal bouts on Tuesday.
They added to the seven medals, including that of six-time world champion MC Mary Kom (51kg), that were assured on the day of draws.
India Open gold medal-winner Sanjeet defeated Jasur Qurbonov of Tajikistan 5-0 to enter the semifinals in the men’s draw along with Thapa.
His next opponent is last edition’s silver medallist Sanjar Tursunov of Uzbekistan, who has been seeded third this year.
In the women’s competition, Sakshi (54kg) got the better of Tajikistan’s Ruhafzo Haqazarova 5-0 to set up a clash against top seed Dina Zholaman of Kazakhstan.
Jaismine edged past Oyuntsetseg Yesugen of Mongolia 4-1 and will now square off against Vladislava Kukhta of Kazakhstan.
Simranjit, who recently recovered from Covid-19, defeated Raykhona Kodirova of Uzbekistan 4-1. Her next opponent is also a Kazakh in Rimma Volossenko.
On Wednesday, India’s Olympic-bound men pugilists Amit Panghal (52kg), Vikas Krishan (69kg) and Ashish Kumar (75kg) will kick-start their campaign.
World Championships silver-medallist and defending champion Panghal will face Mongolia’s Kharkhuu Enkhmandakh.
The two fought at the 2020 Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Amman, Jordan, where the Indian had triumphed in a gruelling contest.
Asian Games champion Vikas Krishan will square off against Iran’s Moslem Malamir, while last edition’s silver medallist Ashish will face World Championships and Asian Games silver medallist Abilkhan Amankul of Kazakhstan.