Asian Games 2023: After Shiva Thapa's unexpected early exit on September 27, world champion Nikht Zareen kept India's hopes for a boxing medal alive.
Shortly
- Bak Chorong of Korea was defeated by Nikhat Zareen in the second round.
- Shiva Thapa was defeated by Askat Kultaev in their matchup.
- Thapa was surprised by an aggressive Askat Kultaev.
India had a mixed day at the Asian Games boxing tournament on September 27, 2023. In the women's 50kg division, two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen went to the quarterfinals, but veteran Indian fighters Shiva Thapa and Sanjeet were disqualified.
Bak Chorong of Korea was defeated by Nikhat Zareen in the second round.
Shiva Thapa was defeated by Askat Kultaev in their matchup.
Thapa was surprised by an aggressive Askat Kultaev.
India had a mixed day at the Asian Games boxing tournament on September 27, 2023. In the women's 50kg division, two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen went to the quarterfinals, but veteran Indian fighters Shiva Thapa and Sanjeet were disqualified.
Shiva Thapa, who has won six medals at the Asian Championship, did not have as good of a day. He competed against Askat Kultaev of Kyrgyzstan in the pre-quarterfinals at 63.5 kg. Thapa was taken off guard by Kultaev's aggressive attitude and constant attacks, which caused him to lose. Thapa was a serious medal candidate, but he was unable to take advantage of his advantageous draw. Despite his best attempts in the final three minutes, Kultaev successfully defended, costing Thapa the second round due to his deliberate approach to his punches. As a result, Thapa was eliminated from the match.
Another Indian boxer, Sanjeet, who was fighting in the 92 kg division, withdrew from the match after being outpunched 5-0 by Lazizbek Mullojonov, who won the bronze medal at the world tournament.Sanjeet found it difficult to react to Mullojonov's punches and was compelled to adopt a defensive posture. Mullojonov's strike caused him to lose his balance, and the eight count that followed signalled the end of his competition run.
Despite the failures, Nikhat Zareen's outstanding performance gave the Indian team at the Asian Games a much-needed boost. Her triumph over Chorong Bak demonstrated her talent and tenacity, positioning her as a serious contender for the upcoming quarterfinals.