2021 Asian Boxing Championships: India assured of four more medals

Dubai, May 26: Four Indian boxers, including three women, advanced to the semifinals with impressive victories as India's assured medal tally swelled to 12 in the Asian Championships in Dubai.

Sanjeet (91kg), Sakshi (54kg), Jaismine (57kg) and the Olympic-bound Simranjit Kaur (60kg) joined Shiva Thapa (64kg) in the last four stage following late night wins in their quarterfinal bouts on Tuesday (May 25).

They added to the seven medals, including that of six-time world champion M C Mary Kom (51kg), that were assured on the day of draws.

𝐃𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 💪🏻

In the QF bouts later yesterday night,#Sakshi beat 🇹🇯's Ruhafzo 5️⃣-0️⃣ @BoxerJaismine beat 🇲🇳's Oyuntsetseg 4️⃣-1️⃣@Simranjitboxer beat 🇺🇿's Raykhona K 4️⃣-1️⃣
and confirmed medals for 🇮🇳 in ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships 2021 🥊#PunchMeinHaiDum pic.twitter.com/xZYB1avJwM

— Boxing Federation (@BFI_official) May 26, 2021

India Open gold-winner Sanjeet defeated Jasur Qurbonov of Tajikistan 5-0 to enter the semifinals in the men's draw along with Thapa.

His next opponent is last edition's silver-medallist Sanjar Tursunov of Uzbekistan who has been seeded third this year.

Asian Boxing Championships 2021: Shiva Thapa enters semis, secures his fifth successive medal

In the women's competition, Sakshi (54kg) got the better of Tajikistan's Ruhafzo Haqazarova 5-0 to set up a clash against top seed Dina Zholaman of Kazakhstan.

Jaismine edged past Oyuntsetseg Yesugen of Mongolia 4-1 and will now square off against Vladislava Kukhta of Kazakhstan.

Simranjit, who recently recovered from COVID-19, defeated Raykhona Kodirova of Uzbekistan 4-1. Her next opponent is also a Kazakh in Rimma Volossenko.

On Wednesday, India's Olympic-bound men pugilists Amit Panghal (52kg), Vikas Krishan (69kg) and Ashish Kumar (75kg) will kick-start their campaign.

Asian Boxing Championships: Hussmuddin loses in QF; Panghal, Vikas and Ashish to play in last-8 on Day 3

World Championships silver-medallist and defending champion Panghal will face Mongolia's Kharkhuu Enkhmandakh.

The two fought at the 2020 Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Amman, Jordan where the Indian had triumphed in a gruelling contest.

Asian Games champion Vikas Krishan will square off against Iran's Moslem Malamir, while last edition's silver-winner Ashish will face World Championships and Asian Games silver-medallist Abilkhan Amankul of Kazakhstan.