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Indian star boxers Nikhat Zareen, reigning world champion, and Lovlina Borgohain, Olympic bronze medallist, on Saturday sealed their spots in the Indian team for the Commonwealth Games with convincing wins in the selection trials.
The two-time Strandja Memorial gold medallist, Nikhat bossed over Haryana's Minakshi via a 7-0 unanimous decision while Lovlina out-classed Railways Pooja by an identical margin.
Nitu (48kg) and Jasmine (60kg) were the others boxers, who also sealed spots for the quadrennial event. Nikhat looked in control throughout her bout, landing clear punches as she danced around the ring.
A two-time former youth world champion, Nitu eked out a 5-2 split decision win over 2019 silver medallist Manju Rani.
The Haryana boxer is enjoying a good year. She had won the gold at the Strandja Memorial tournament earlier this year.
Jasmine, the 2021 Asian youth boxing Championship bronze medallist, out-punched 2022 world championship bronze medallist Parveen Hooda in a fast-paced light-middleweight final.
The CWG is set to be held in Birmingham from July 28 to August 8.
Team: Nitu (48kg), Nikhat Zareen (50kg), Jasmine (60kg), Lovlina Borgohain(70Kg).
Earlier on Saturday, veteran Indian boxer MC Mary Kom forced to withdraw midway through her Commonwealth Games 48kg trial after sustaining a leg injury. The six-time world champion injured herself in the first round of the 48kg semifinals. Haryana's Nitu thus advanced to the finals of the CWG trials at the Indira Gandhi International Stadium here.
The 2018 gold medallist, Mary, fell down in the first round of the bout. The 39-year-old tried to keep going but after a couple of punches struggled to keep balance as she clutched her left leg.
An official statement from Boxing Federation of India (BFI) stated: "Six-time world champion Mary Kom has withdrawn from the on-going Women's Boxing Trials for the 2022 Commonwealth Games due to an injury she suffered on Friday. During the 48kg contest against Nitu, the London Olympic bronze medallist Mary Kom sustained a knee injury just after a minute into the opening round but, after medical assistance, the veteran boxer came back into the ring as the bout was resumed."
"However, Mary Kom was still experiencing intense pain that eventually forced her to leave the ring towards the end of the opening round as the referee stopped the bout and declared Nitu the winner with RSCI verdict. With this, Mary Kom's challenge for a spot at the Birmingham Games also came to an end. Nitu will face Manju Rani in the final on Saturday, aiming to seal CWG berth in the 48kg. "
