Minakshi Hooda Secures Medal; Men's World Boxing Campaign Ends Without Podium Finish

Liverpool, Sep 12 (PTI) Minakshi Hooda has secured India's fourth medal at the ongoing World Boxing Championships by advancing to the semifinals. Unfortunately, the men's campaign will see no podium finish for the first time in 12 years after Jadumani Singh Mandengbam was defeated in his quarterfinal bout on Friday.

Minakshi, competing in the non-Olympic 48kg category, showcased an impressive performance by defeating England's U-19 world champion, Alice Pumphrey, with a unanimous decision in the quarterfinals. Exhibiting great skill, she maintained a strategic backfoot stance, using her long reach effectively to land precise shots while counter-attacking.

Minakshi is set to compete against 2023 silver medallist Lutsaikhany Altantsetseg from Mongolia in the semifinals. Her victory ensures she joins fellow Indian boxers Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), Pooja Rani (80kg), and Nupur Sheoran (+80kg) in guaranteeing medals for the country.

Jadumani bows out after valiant fight

The determined Jadumani Singh faced the reigning world champion, Sanzhar Tashkenbay of Kazakhstan, in the quarterfinals of the men's 50kg category. Despite a spirited effort, Jadumani exited the tournament following a 0-4 split verdict in a rapid-paced match. This concludes India's men's campaign without a medal for the first time since 2013.

The unexpected result follows a successful 2023 outing in Tashkent, where India secured three bronze medals through the efforts of Deepak Bhoria (51kg), Mohammad Hussamuddin (57kg), and Nishant Dev (71kg).

During Jadumani's quarterfinal, he aggressively pressed forward, attempting to corner his Kazakh opponent. However, the two-time Asian medallist Tashkenbay countered with precise punches, winning the first round 4-1. Undeterred, Jadumani continued to apply pressure, but Tashkenbay's experienced defense dominated the second round, resulting in a point deduction for Jadumani for excessive holding.

In the final round, Jadumani launched a fierce attack, landing sharp right hooks. However, Tashkenbay had done enough in the earlier rounds to secure his advancement to the semifinals.

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