Kolkata: S Kalaivani of Tamil Nadu scored a resounding victory over Jharkhand boxer Nikita Lohar to make her way into the semi-finals of the 36-kilogram weight division of the 13-year-age group in the 7th Women’s Sub-Junior National Championship that got underway at Chetla Park in Kolkata on May 27 moved into the second phase of the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
Kalaivani, a gold medal winner at the previous edition of the tournament, was engaged in a hard fought battle against Nikita, but in the end she emerged victorious on points 25:18. In the same weight division, 2011 Sub-Junior Nationals silver medallist Sonali Tokas had little trouble ousting Muskan Khairwar of UP; she beat Muskan 27:7 on points. Kalaivani will take on Pooja from Haryana in the round of four, while Sonail will square up against H Jamuna Chanu of Manipur.
In the 40-kg weight of the same age, Mandeep Kaur of Punjab edged past Indra Singh of Chhatisgarh into the semi-finals by way of some heavy hitting in the second and the third round; she won 4:2 on points. Kaur, a gold medallist last year, will now take on Lalengmawii of Mizoram in the next round. Lalengmawii drubbed Bina Mandal of Goa to secure her semi-final spot.
In the 14-year group, Preeti Kumari of Jharkhand, who won a gold medal in the 36 kg last year, is playing in the 38 kilogram weight this time around. Up against Manpreet Kaur of Punjab, Preeti was at her menacing best as she hammered Kaur in a lopsided affair. The 14-year-old was leading 13:4 in the in the second round when the bout was stopped by the referee.
In the semis she face off against local girl Chaitali Kapat, who beat last year’s silver medallist and Delhi boxer Ritika on points 221:7 to set up the clash. In the 42kg weight of the same age group, two times Haryana Sub-Junior State Champion Seema Gill displayed great skill and technique as she got the better of Goan pugilist Asha Rastoti. In the next round she will lock horns with Priyanka Gogoi of Assam who trounced Sapna Goswami of Uttarakhand to advance to the semi-finals.
The event witnessed a staggering number of 307 boxers from 28 State/Board teams taking part in the championships. The seventh edition of the tournament, which will go on till 31 May 2012, is being organised by the West Bengal State Boxing Association under the aegis of Indian Amateur Boxing Federation.
IABF Secretary General, Brig PK Muralidharan Raja believes the Sub-Junior National Championships are an instrumental cog in the professional careers of budding amateur boxers. He said, “The Sub-Junior Nationals is a very important part of the boxing structure; the Championships at this level of the sport helps us unearth talent and build potential athletes for the nation. Talent is identified and then nurtured at the national camps under the supervision of the coaches. This is where the groundwork is laid down for a promising future.”
The five-day championship has been divided into four categories - girls of age 15 & 16 (Group A), 14 (Group B), 13 (Group C) and 12 (group D). 160 medals would be on stake in 40 weight classes spread over the above mentioned four age groups.