First defeat for India at Women`s World Championships

The Indian boxing team tasted its first defeat after Pooja Rani (75kg) lost in the opening round.

New Delhi: The Indian boxing team tasted its first defeat at the Women`s World Championships-cum-Olympic Qualifiers after Pooja Rani (75kg) lost in the opening round to bow out of the event in Qinhuangdao, China on Saturday.

Fighting for the lone berth for Asia in the event, Pooja lost to American Claressa Maria Shields 10-27. The Indian trailed 3-7 in the opening two minutes and conceded 20 more in the next three rounds to lose tamely. But Mandakini Chanu (57kg) and Neetu Chahal (69kg) advanced to the second round with easy wins. Mandakini and Neetu are competing in 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. Mandakini will now take on world number one Tiara Brown of USA on Monday. Neetu, meanwhile, defeated Hungary`s European Champion Bianka Nagy 22-6. At the end of the first round, Neetu was leading 4-1and 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. Neetu`s next opponent is also a world number one -- Marie de Jong of The Netherlands. PTI