Nikhat Zareen Defeats Zhazira Urakbayeva 5:0; Clinches Elorda Cup 2024

Two-time World Champion Nikhat Zareen clinched the Elorda Cup as she defeated Zhazira Urakbayeva of Kazakhstan 5:0 by unanimous decision in the Women's 52 kg category. Besides Nikhat, Minakshi (48kg), Anamika (50kg) and Manisha (60kg) also made their way into the finals comfortably. Minakshi and Manisha put up similar dominating displays in their semi-finals to grab a 5-0 unanimous victory against Kazakh boxers Gulnaz Buribayeva and Tangatar Assem respectively. Anamika, on the other hand, was adjudged victorious after her opponent Kazakhstan's Gulnar Turapbay was disqualified for excessive holding after three warnings. Meanwhile, Sonu (63kg) and Manju Bamboriya (66kg) ended their campaigns with bronze medals after suffering contrasting defeats in their last clashes. Sonu fought valiantly against Uzbekistan's Zieda Yarasheva but ended up on a losing side with a 2-3 scoreline whereas Manju Bamboriya faced a tough 0-5 loss against China's Liu Yang. Shalakha Singh Sansanwal (70kg) and Monika (81 kg) will play their semi-finals later today. Four Indian men pugilists Yaiphaba Singh Soibam (48kg), Abhishek Yadav (67kg), Vishal (86kg) and Gaurav Chauhan (92 kg) will play their semi-final bouts on Friday.