Pavitra, Sonam in semifinals of Asian Women's boxing C'ship

Pavitra defeated Filipino Nesthy Petesio 5-4, while Sonam got the better of Mongolia's Unbran Zrdensyol 5-0 to enter the semifinals of the event.However, it was curtains for Meena Rani (64kg), who lost 6-13 to Korea's Pak Kyong Ok.

Pavitra, who won a silver in the previous edition of the event in Guwahati, was the first to take the ring and was locked 1-1 against her rival in the first round.

The Indian then nosed ahead 3-1 in the second round but Petesio caught up in the third round to reduce the margin to 4-3. Both Pavitra and Petesio could manage just one scoring punch each in the final two minutes but that was enough for the Indian to emerge winner.
Sonam, on the other hand, was up 3-0 in the very first round and added two more points in the next. The remaining two rounds went without any of the boxers getting on the scoresheet.India has sent an 11-strong team, including four-time world champion M C Mary Kom, for the competition where 16 countries are participating.