Sport - Boxing

Pranamika loses in first round

— PHOTO: RITU RAJ KONWAR

OLYMPIAN PRESENCE: Beijing Olympics bronze medallist Vijender Singh flanked by Jitender Kumar (left) and Akhil Kumar at the inaugural function on Tuesday.

GUWAHATI: Short and stout Pranamika Borah of India found her Chinese opponent Dong Cheng too good and went out with a 1-4 defeat in the lightweight (60 kg) category on the first day of the fourth Asian women’s boxing championship at Sarusajai Sports Complex here on Tuesday.

Pranamika, supported by a vociferous crowd, failed to reach the taller rival and landed most of her punches in the air. The technically superior Dong showed better footwork to withdraw and come in with cool right straights to rock the Indian four times.

Dong took 3-0 lead in the first round before Pranamika could gauge her opponent’s style. Egged on by her teammates Pranamika tried to dodge in and out and in the process landed one solid left to pick the lone point in the second round.

The final round was more of a scrap between the two. The Indian went all out while the Chinese backtracked to all corners to avoid the rushing Indian.

Dong’s wait and watch policy paid as she got one smack on the Indian’s face to pick up the lone point and ran out a 4-1 winner.

Earlier the championship was declared opened by state chief minister, Tarun Gogoi, after the 11 participating teams did the march past.

The three Indians pugilists who did well in the Beijing Olympics, Vijender Kumar, Jitender Kumar and Akhil Kumar, were present during the opening ceremony.

On behalf of the all the participants, India’s World champion M.C. Marykom took the oath. The bouts began after a 90-minute cultural programme that left many wondering whether they had come to watch boxing or cultural events.

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