Pinki Rani, Sakshi enter semi-finals at Cologne

NEW DELHI: Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Pinki Rani (51kg) and reigning youth world champion Sakshi (57kg) assured India of its third and fourth medal by entering the semi-finals of the ongoing Cologne Boxing World Cup 2019 in Cologne, Germany on Thursday.

Continuing her impeccable form, the India Open gold medallist Pinki Rani put up yet another dominating performance to blank Thailand’s Phunsang Cahiranchaya 5-0 in the quarter-final bout. The 18-year-old Sakshi won in contrasting fashion as she faced some stiff resistance from Cecille Kelle of Denmark. The Indian had to dig deep to stave off the Dane’s challenge before she won by a split decision on points.

The Indian contingent is already confirmed of at least a silver and a bronze after Meena Kumari Maisnam and Pwilao Basumatary reached the final and semi-finals in the 54kg and 64kg respectively. With only 3 boxers in the fray in the 54kg category, Strandja Memorial gold medallist Maisnam was directly placed in the final.

Similarly, due to the 64kg category having just 5 pugilists, Basumatary, a bronze medallist at Strandja Memorial, is already through to the semi-finals. 

Earlier in the day, the talented Anjali Tushir’s campaign came to an end following her 0-5 loss to Yvonne Baek Rasmussen of Denmark in the opening round of the 69kg category.

India has sent a seven-member team to this prestigious European event this time following a healthy haul of six medals from the erstwhile Chemistry Cup held at Halle last year.