New Delhi: Indian women boxers were off to an impressive start at the World Championships-cum-Olympic Qualifiers in Qinhuangdao, China with Mandakini Chanu (57kg) and Neetu Chahal (69kg) advancing to the second round with easy wins.
Mandakini and Neetu are competing in the non-Olympic categories as only 51kg, 60kg and 75kg divisions have been picked for the London Games where women's boxing will make its debut in the quadrennial extravaganza. Mandakini comprehensively defeated Serbia's Bojana Ranic.
Right from the moment the gong was sounded, Mandakini went on a relentless offensive against the Serbian who was physically taller and heftier.
At the end of Round one, the score was 10-3 in favour of India and during the second round, Mandakini stunned Ranic twice whereby the referee had to administer the standing count of eight on both occasions. Finally, the Referee stopped the contest in the third round in favour of Mandakini.
Neetu, meanwhile, defeated Hungary's European Champion Bianka Nagy 22-6. At the end of the first round, Neetu was leading 4-1 and although Bianka was a very experienced boxer, Neetu's attacking play gave her the edge and the bout. Score at the end of second Round was 9-3 which increased to 17-5 by the next and finished at 22-6.
Neetu's next opponent is also a world number one, Marie de Jong of Netherlands while Mandakini will take on world number one Tiara Brown of USA on Monday.
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