New Delhi – Despite putting up spirited performances, Indian boxers Zoram Muana, Pukharam Kishan Singh, Shiksha, Ashish Kumar, and Hemant Yadav encountered hard-fought defeats in the quarterfinals and bowed out of the ongoing Elorda Cup in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Thursday.
Zoram Muana, competing in the 51kg category, faced a tough challenge against Kazakhstan’s Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Stake Bibossinov. Despite his best efforts, Zoram suffered a unanimous 0-5 defeat, as confirmed by the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) in a press release. Although disappointed with the outcome, Zoram’s display of determination deserves recognition.
In the 54kg category, Pukharam Kishan Singh faced Daulet Moldashev of Kazakhstan, and unfortunately, he endured a 0-5 loss in a hard-fought bout. Similarly, Hemant Yadav (71kg) had a challenging task against Talgat Sahikenov of Kazakhstan and also suffered a 0-5 defeat. Their efforts on the boxing stage were commendable, despite the results not going in their favour.
Shiksha, competing in the 54kg category, exhibited tremendous courage in her encounter against 2016 World Championship bronze medalist Zhaina Shekerbekova of Kazakhstan. However, despite her valiant efforts, Shiksha fell short and lost the bout with a scoreline of 0-5. Her determination and resilience were evident throughout the fight.
On Friday, Vijay Kumar (60kg) will step into the ring for his quarterfinal bout against Zholdas Zhenissov of Kazakhstan, seeking to keep India’s hopes alive in the tournament. Additionally, Neema (36kg) will be contesting her semifinal bout against Laura Yessenkil of Kazakhstan, aiming to secure a spot in the final and vie for the championship.
In a silver lining for India, Sumit, competing in the 86kg category, secured a resounding victory on the second day of the Eldora Cup. Dominating his quarterfinal bout against Bekzat Tangatar of Kazakhstan, Sumit displayed his power and precision, winning the contest convincingly with a 5-0 scoreline. His performance guaranteed him a well-deserved bronze medal and brought pride to the Indian contingent.
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