Xtra Time Web Desk: The Indian pugilists were on Sunday handed a mixed draw in the 12th edition of the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships to be held in Istanbul from May 8 to 20. Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Lovlina Borgohain (70kg) will kickstart India’s campaign on Monday but she got a tough draw as she will be up against the former world champion Chen Nien-Chin.
The Chinese Taipei boxer, who won gold and bronze medals respectively in 2018 and 2016 at the World Championships, is the same opponent Lovlina beat in the quarter-finals of the 2020 Olympic Games.
Two-time Asian Champion Pooja Rani (81kg), Nandini and Nikhat Zareen have also been handed tough draws in their respective categories.
While Pooja will start in the round of 16 against two-time World Championships bronze medallist Hungary boxer Timea Nagy, Nandini (+81kg) has received bye in the opening round but will face last edition’s bronze medallist Khadija El-Mardi of Morocco in the quarter-finals.
On the other hand, Nikhat (52kg) will face Mexico’s Herrera Alvarez in the opening round and if she wins, she is likely to meet 2021 Asian Championships bronze medallist Mongolia’s Lutsaikhan Altantsetseg in the next round of 16.
In the last edition of the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships held in Russia in 2019, the Indian boxers clinched one silver and three bronze medals.
Indian squad: Nitu (48kg), Anamika (50kg), Nikhat Zareen (52kg), Shiksha (54kg), Manisha (57kg), Jaismine (60kg), Parveen (63kg), Ankushita (66kg), Lovlina Borgohain (70kg), Saweety (75kg), Pooja Rani (81kg), Nandini (+81kg).