South Asian Games – Day2 Report
India’s icon Mary Kom won the first historical woman bout in the South Asian Games
The boxing tournament of the South Asian Games continued in Shillong, India where the semi-finals were held for the men boxers and the first bouts for the ladies. Women boxers can fight in the South Asian Games at the very first time in the history of the multisport event where India proved perfect performance after two competition days.
Women’s Flyweight class (51 kg):
India’s five-times AIBA Women’s World Champion Chungneijang Mary Kom Hmangte won the first historical women bout against Bangladesh’s two-time National Champion Shamina Akhter which contest finished in the second round due the host nation’s star’s serious punches. Sri Lanka’s best woman boxer veteran Anusha Dilrukshi Kodituwakku also did not give any chance to Nepal’s Minu Gurung and advanced to the last four in the South Asian Games.
Women’s Lightweight class (60 kg):
India’s former AIBA Women’s World Champion Sarita Devi boxes through the four rounds against Laishram Nepal’s best woman boxer Saraswati Rana but he victory was not in danger in the quarter-finals of the tournament. Sri Lanka’s Viushika Prabadi moved up two weight classes in the recent years but her strength was too much for Pakistan’s newcomer Ruksana Perveen which bout ended in the third round. This was the very first international bout for a Pakistani woman boxer in the history of our sport.
Women’s Middleweight class (75 kg):
India’s ASBC Asian Women’s Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist Pooja Rani was too strong for Pakistan’s newcomer Sofiya Javed which contest finished in the opening round. Sri Lanka’s Nilanthi Andaraweera replaced experienced boxers in the national squad but her performance was more than enough to eliminate Bangladesh’s National Champion Basona Khandokr.
Men’s Light Flyweight class (49 kg):
Pakistan’s Mohibullah Bacha took part in the last big international events and his experiences survived his chances in the South Asian Games where he needed to do his very best against Bangladesh’s Hossain Mohamed Sojib in the quarter-finals and following that he proved better performance against Afghanistan’s Farhad Sharifi. The top favourite of the lowest weight class India’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist 24-year-old Devendro Laishram Singh defeated Sri Lanka’s Thiwanka Ranasinghe in a spectacular contest.
Men’s Flyweight class (52 kg):
India’s Madan Lal has got experiences from the international competitions since 2008 but he had warm moments in his semi-final contest against Afghanistan’s Mohammad Aref Nazari which bout finished by split decision in the favour of the host nation’s boxer. Madan Lal will be fighting for the gold medal with Pakistan’s two-time National Champion Syed Mohammed Asif who eliminated Sri Lanka’s younger hope Ishan Sanjeewa Bandara in the second semi-final of the category.
Men’s Bantamweight class (56 kg):
Sri Lanka’s Layton Cup and Clifford Cup winner Ruwan Thilina Weerakoddi proved his strength once again in the international level and he needed only two minutes to stop Afghanistan’s Nimat Shukrollah in the semi-finals. His final opponent will be India’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Shiva Thapa who defeated Bangladesh’s Mohamed Omiduzzaman with large margin of difference.
Men’s Lightweight class (60 kg):
India’s World Military Games winner Dheeraj Kumar is a new national team member who won all of the rounds against Afghanistan’s experienced Mohammad Khaibar Nooristani in a great bout. The Indian newcomer will be fighting for the gold medal with Pakistan’s Commonwealth Games competitor Ahmed Ali who defeated Sri Lanka’s Gayan Sanjeewa in the second semi-final.
Men’s Light Welterweight class (64 kg):
India’s former Commonwealth Games winner and London 2012 Olympian Manoj Kumar won all of the rounds against Bhutan’s Tshering Wangchuk who won his first international contest in the quarter-final of the South Asian Games. Nepal’s experienced Deepak Shrestha also started with a great triumph but his opponent Sri Lanka’s Commonwealth Games competitor Dinidu Saparamadu was able to find his weak points in their bout.
Men’s Welterweight class (69 kg):
India’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist Mandeep Jangra had to meet in the semi-final with his main rival Sri Lanka’s Sisira Ruwangala Gedara Kumarasinghe but the host nation’s 23-year-old pride was able to solve that tactical issue in the front of the home crowd. His final opponent will be Afghanistan’s last remained man boxer two-time National Champion Allah Dad Rahimi who stopped Bangladesh’s veteran Mohamed Abdur Rahim.
Men’s Middleweight class (75 kg):
India’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist Vikas Krishan Yadav knocked down Bangladesh’s former South Asian Games winner Ahmed Jewel Jony in the quarter-finals and he continued his winning path against Afghanistan’s Folad Wali Shah. Bhutan’s 29-year-old Tashi Norbu was quarter-finalist in the last edition of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships in Bangkok but Pakistan’s two-time National Champion Ahmad Tanveer was able to beat him therefore he will be the final opponent of the Indian star.