Sonia prevails in fiery clash

India sealed three quarterfinal berths in the Women’s World Boxing Championships on a day shrouded by controversy at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex.

The progress of Sonia Chahal (57kg), Simaranjit Kaur (64kg) and Pinki Rani (51 kg) underlined another good outing for the hosts on Monday. However, Saweety Boora (75 kg) fumbled to register India’s second loss in 10 categories.

In all, eight Indians have made it to the quarterfinals. Only Seema, who received a first-round bye in the +81kg class, got a direct quarterfinal entry with fewer boxers competing in the category.

Sonia’s joy was soured after her opponent, former world champion Stanimira Petrova, accused the judges of corruption.

In the tussle between two counter-attackers, the 21-year-old Indian faced a tough challenge from Petrova in the opening round. Sonia then faltered in the second round which the Bulgarian wrapped up with a fine right hook. The Indian, however, fought back in the final round and advanced when judges declared a 3-2 split verdict.

While Petrova, a gold medal winner in the 2014 edition in the 54kg, left shaking her head in disagreement, Sonia, who had been sparring with her, insisted it was a fair result.

"How can all the five judges go wrong? It was a fair decision," said Sonia.

“She was obviously good, but I defended well. I knew I was lagging being on points in the second, but I came back in the third. I am happy to win a tough battle.”

Sonia next faces Arias Castenada Yeni Marcela of Colombia in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Saweety, the former silver medallist, lost her opening bout to Elzbieta Wojcik of Poland by a unanimous decision. The 23-year-old, who had got a bye in the opening round, had won a silver in the 2014 World Championships in the 81kg category.

The Haryana boxer received a standing eight count in the second round. Coach Shiv Singh later questioned the decision. "Saweety did not fall from a punch but was pulled down (by her opponent),” Singh told reporters.

In the 51 kg bout, Pinki got a unanimous decision when she beat European champion from England, Ebonie Alice Jones. It was a tight start for the experienced Indian who was welcomed with left jabs and combination of punches from the Jones. But Pinki recovered in the second and third rounds to set up a clash with North Korean Mi Choi Pang in the last eight.

“It was an easier bout for me as she (Ebonie) was inexperienced,” she said.

Simranjit rounded off the day on a bright note for Indians when she beat Scot Megan Reid by a unanimous decision.

Results (preliminary round)

51Kg- Grazielie Jesus De Sousa (Bra) bt Joo Sara Hagnighat (Can) 5:0, Tsukimi Namiki (Jpn) bt Ceire Rose Smith (Irl) 3:2, Zhaina Shekerbekova (Kaz) bt Ingrit L. V. Victoria (Col) 3:2, Sandra Katarzyna Drabik (Pol) bt Lise Sandebjer (Swe) 5:0, Yuan Chang (Chn) bt Claudia Nechita (Rou) 5:0, Chol Mi Pang (Prk bt Jutamas Jitpong (Tha) 5:0 , Virginia Fuchs (Usa) bt Euna Jang (Kor) 5:0, Pinki Rani (Ind) bt Ebonie Alice Lillie Jones (Eng) 5:0.

57Kg: Son Hwa Jo (Prk) bt Tamara Radunovic (Mne) 5:0, Yeni M. A. Castenada (Col) bt Mariia Sartakova (Rus) 5:0, Skye Brittany Nicolson (Aus) bt Nilawan Techasuep (Tha) 3:2, Sonia (Ind) bt Stanimira Petrova (Bul) 3:2, Alessia Mesiano (Ita) bt Michaela Walsh (Irl) 4:1, Jemyma Betrian (Ned) Bt Aeji Im (Kor) R3 2:36, Junhua Yin (Chn) bt Leonela Sanchez (Arg) 5:0, Ornella Gabriele Wahner (Ger) bt Victoria Glover (Sco) 5:0.

64Kg: Milana Safronova (Kaz) bt Maya Kleinhans (Ger) 3:2, Sema Caliskan (Tur) bt Dana Maria Borzei (Rou) 5:0, Maria Bova (Ukr) bt Yvonne B. Rasmussen (Den) 3:2, Jessica Messina (Aus) bt Soumaya Tabarkokt (Alg) 5:0, Simranjeet Kaur (Ind) bt Megan Reid (Sco) 5:0, Shoira Zulkanynarova (Tjk) bt Martina Schmoranzova (Cze) 5:0, Dan Dou (Chn) bt Francesca Amato (Ita) 5:0, Amy Sra Broadhurst (Irl) bt Ani Hovsepyan (Arm) 5:0.

75Kg: Nouchka Mireille Fontijn (Ned) bt Myagmarjargal Munkbhat (MGL) 5:0, Tammara Thibeault (Can) bt Chei Kenneally (NZL) 5:0, Lauren Louise Price (Wal) bt Aoife Marie O’ Rourke (Irl) 5:0, Elzbieta Wojcik (Pol) bt Saweety Boora (Ind) 5:0.