India end campaign with four medals; Jaismine, Minakshi crowned world champs

LONDON: Jaismine Lamboria (57kg) and Minakshi Hooda (48kg) carved their place in Indian boxing history by clinching titles with hard-fought wins at the World Championships in Liverpool.

Capping off a stupendous campaign that saw her dominate all her rivals, Jaismine outclassed Paris Olympics silver medallist Julia Szeremeta of Poland in the 57kg summit clash late on Saturday night, prevailing 4-1 on the judges’ scorecards (30-27 29-28 30-27 28-29 29-28).

Minakshi followed suit a day later on Sunday, by out-punching Paris Olympics bronze medallist Kazakshtan’s Nazym Kyzaibay with the same margin in the 48kg summit clash.

However, Nupur Sheoran (80+kg) and the seasoned Pooja Rani (80kg) signed off with silver and bronze medals respectively in non-Olympic weight categories.

With the victory, Jaismine and Minakshi joined an illustrious list of Indian world champions featuring six-time winner Mary Kom (2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2018), two-time winner Nikhat Zareen (2022 and 2023), Sarita Devi (2006), Jenny RL (2006), Lekha KC (2006), Nitu Ghanghas (2023), Lovlina Borgohain (2023) and Saweety Boora (2023).

Competing in her third World Championships, the 24-year-old Jaismine grew steadily into the bout. After a relatively sedate start where both pugilists sized each other up, it was Szeremeta who drew first blood, prodded into action by the referee.

The much shorter Pole, who had lost the Olympic final to gender-row boxer Lin Yu-ting, was fast and precise, using defensive manoeuvres to dart in and out. She negotiated Jaismine’s long reach to win the opening round 3-2.

But the Indian came roaring back in the second. Adjusting her rhythm, she began controlling the distance, evading Szeremeta’s advances, and unleashing crisp combinations that swayed all the judges in her favour.

Jaismine employed the jab and defended stoutly.

When the final verdict was announced, the usually serene Jaismine let out a brief yell, raising her hand before graciously embracing her crestfallen opponent.

At the medal ceremony, her eyes glistened as the Indian national anthem reverberated through the arena.

Nupur walked away with silver after a narrow 2-3 defeat to Poland’s technically astute Agata Kaczmarska.

Earlier in the semi-finals, Pooja signed off with a bronze medal after going down to local favourite Emily Asquith by a 1-4 split verdict. Agencies

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