Olympians Pooja Rani and Jaismine Lamboria registered contrasting wins to assure two more medals for India at the World Boxing Championships 2025 in Liverpool on Wednesday.
Two-time Asian boxing champion Pooja Rani got the better of Poland’s Emilia Koterska 3-2 in the women’s 80kg quarter-finals.
In a keenly-contested women’s 80kg bout, Pooja Rani banked on her experience to tackle the speed and energy of her much-younger opponent.
The Polish boxer was slightly ahead in the contest after the opening round but Pooja Rani dominated the second to take control and then maintained a cautious game plan to assure herself a semi-final berth.
World Boxing Cup Astana gold medallist Jaismine, on the other hand, dominated U22 Asian champion Khumoranobu Mamajonova of Uzbekistan 5-0 to reach the women’s 57kg semi-final.
Jaismine did not allow the Uzbek boxer to settle down in the first round itself and maintained that advantage throughout the bout to advance to the semis.
Nupur Sheoran, World Boxing Cup Astana gold medallist, was the first Indian to be assured of a medal when she reached the women’s 80+kg semi-finals on Wednesday.
Two more Indian boxers – Meenakshi (women’s 48kg) and Jadumani Singh Mandengbam (men’s 50kg) – are a win away from assuring themselves a medal and will be seen in quarter-final action on Friday.
However, it was the end of the road for former world champion Nikhat Zareen and World Boxing Cup silver medallist Abhinash Jamwal.
Facing two-time Olympic silver medallist Buse Naz Çakıroğlu of Türkiye in the women’s 51kg quarter-finals, Nikhat fought valiantly in all three rounds but the judges ruled in the Turk’s favour.
Later, Jamwal went down 4-1 against Paris 2024 bronze medallist Lasha Guruli of Georgia in the men’s 65kg quarter-finals.
India have fielded a 20-member contingent at the inaugural World Championships. Earlier, Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain endured a disappointing outing with a second-round exit in the women’s 75kg on Saturday.