Boxing: Naveen Boora storms into semis, confirms India's first medal at the 72nd Strandja Memorial Tournament

New Delhi, February 25: Indian boxers Naveen Boora and Manjeet Singh registered comprehensive victories in their respective categories on the third day at the 72nd Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The 2019 national champion Boora outpunched Brazil's Eravio Edson 5-0 to enter in the 69kg semi-finals. With a place in the last-4, Boora has now assured at least a bronze medal. While Manjeet, who is playing his first senior international tournament, notched up an easy 4-0 win against Irish boxer Gytis Lisinskas to progress into the +91kg quarter-finals. The Haryana boxer Manjeet will play against Armenia B's Gurgen Hovhannisyan in +91 kg Last-8 match later tonight.

Jyoti Gulia, Bhagyabati Kachari and Deepak Kumar are the other Indians who will play their quarter-finals bouts tonight. The 2017 Youth World Champion Gulia, who stunned two-time world champion Nazym Kyzaibay in the last round, will be up against Romanian boxer Lacramioara Perijoc in 51kg while Baghyabati (75kg) will face stiff challenge from world championship bronze medallist Naomi Graham of USA.

In the men's 52kg, Asian Championship silver medallist Deepak will play against Bulgaria's Darislav Vasilev.