Guwahati: Six-time World Champion Mary Kom may have a possible semifinal face-off with Asian Championships bronze medallist Nikhat Zareen in 51kg in the second Indian Open boxing tournament, which got underway here Monday.
As per the draw, released Sunday, Asian Games gold medallist Amit Panghal (52kg) could have a hassle-free route to the final, where he is likely to take on Asian Games silver medallist Rogen Siaga Ladon of Philippines.
Ten Indian boxers are already confirmed of a medal each with six in men and four in women category entering the semifinals straightaway because of the smaller size of the draw.
Brijesh Yadav and Sanjay are already in the 81kg semifinals, and so are Naman Tanwar and Sanjeet in 91kg while Satish Kumar and Atul Thakur are in +91kg.
In the women’s segment, Lovlina Borgohain and Anjali are already assured of medals in 69kg while Bhagyabati Kachari and Saweety Boora are through to the last four in 75kg by virtue of a first round bye.
“We have at least a couple of Indian boxers in each category and the competition is very close. It will be a very interesting tournament and the exposure for the boxers will stand them in good stead ahead of the World Championships,” Raffaele Bergamasco, the performance director of Indian boxing, said.
The men’s 52kg and 56kg categories have at least three Indian medal hopes.
“We have World Championships medallist in Gaurav Bidhuri in 56kg, Hussamuddin has done really well and Kavinder just won the silver at the Asian Championships. In 52kg, Solanki just won a gold in Poland while Amit and Sachin are there. Each of them is competing against each other. So it will be a tough competition within the countrymen as well as wth the foreign boxers,” pointed out Bergamasco.
PTI
