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World champion Nikhat Zareen and Olympic bronze medalist Lovlina Borgohain on Saturday confirmed their selections in the Indian team for the upcoming Commonwealth Games with conquering wins in the trials. The two-time Strandja Memorial gold medalist Zareen tormented Haryana's Minakshi 7-0 in a unanimous decision in the 50 kg category.
Then Borgohain outclassed Railways' Pooja by another unanimous decision in the 75kg group. Nitu Ghanghas (48kg) and Jaismine Lamboriya (60kg) were the other boxers, who also guaranteed their spots for the Commonwealth Games which are scheduled to be held in Birmingham from 28 July to 8 August.
“I didn’t even manage 50 per cent of my world championships performance here,” Zareen
Talking about her win, Nikhat Zareen expressed how she didn’t have one of her best performances in the trials as she wasn’t in fighting shape and started training on 3 June. She said, “It was very difficult for me to get back to my competitive zone because I had not trained since the world championships. I only started the training on June 3 and had to get fit again in just three days. I didn’t even manage 50 per cent of my world championships performance here and still have to work on my strength, speed and power in this weight category.”
"I know the game that I have shown here at the trials is not even 50 per cent of what I showed at the World Championships but still I managed to beat all my opponents by unanimous decision," she added.
“Mary Kom sustained a knee injury just after a minute into the opening round,” BFI
But among the Indian women’s boxing contingent, Mary Kom recently pulled out off the Commonwealth Games trials as she suffered a foot injury. Addressing this news, Boxing Federation of India (BFI) stated: "Six-time world champion Mary Kom has withdrawn from the ongoing Women's Boxing Trials for the 2022 Commonwealth Games due to a knee injury she suffered on Friday.”
During the 48kg contest against Nitu, the London Olympic bronze medalist Mary Kom sustained a knee injury just after a minute into the opening round but, after medical assistance, the veteran boxer came back into the ring as the bout was resumed.
However, Mary Kom was still experiencing intense pain that eventually forced her to leave the ring towards the end of the opening round as the referee stopped the bout and declared Nitu the winner with RSCI verdict. With this, Mary Kom's challenge for a spot at the Birmingham Games also came to an end.
Nitu will face Manju Rani in the final on Saturday, aiming to seal CWG berth in the 48kg.