New Delhi: India’s Nikhat Zareen outclassed reigning world champion Paltceva Ekaterina to storm into the women’s 51 kg quarter-finals at the Bosphorus Boxing tournament in Istanbul.
Zareen, an Asian Championships bronze medallist, dominated Russia’s Ekaterina throughout the bout on Wednesday and won 5-0.
The Indian pugilist will now take on Kazakhstan’s Nazym Kyzaibay - a two-time world champion - in the quarter-finals.
Apart from Zareen, 2013 Asian champion Shiva Thapa, Sonia Lather and Parveen also registered victories in their respective categories to proceed to the quarter-finals.
Thapa, a two-time Olympian and world championships bronze medallist got the better of Kazakhstan’s Smagulov Baghtiyov 3-2 in the men’s 63kg division.
World championship silver medallist Lather (57kg) and Parveen (60kg) beat Turkish opponents Surmeneli Tugcenaz and Ozyol Esra 5-0 in their respective women’s second round matches.
Meanwhile, Duryodhah Negi (men’s 69kg), Brijesh Yadav (men’s 81kg) and Krishan Sharma (men’s +91kg) all bowed out after losses in their respective preliminary rounds.
The third day of the event will witness six Indian boxers fighting it out in their respective quarter-final bouts.
Later, Zareen, Parveen and Jyoti (69kg) will be seen in action in the women’s category while Thapa and Solanki will present Indian challenge in the men’s category.
India has sent a 13-member contingent to the tournament in Turkey. (UNI)