New Delhi: World Championships silver-medallist Sarjubala Devi along with three others forayed into the semi-finals, assuring India of four medals at the inaugural edition of the Indian Open International Tournament at the Thyagraj Stadium.
While the top seeded Sarjubala eased past Christine Ongare of Kenya 5-0 to earn the first medal, Asian silver-medallist Sumit Sangwan (91 kg) defeated Jordan’s Virendar Kumar 5-0 to advance.
The diminutive Manipuri was at her destructive best pushing Ongare to the edges with accurate punches, while also thwarting away counter-atracks from the Kenyan. In the end she was declared the winner by an anonymous verdict.
She will next face Jargalan Ochirbat, who upstaged 13th seed and former Junior World Champion Nikhat Zareen in a fiercely contested battle, that the Mongolian finally won in a split 3-2 verdict.
Commonwealth Games bronze-medallist Pinki Jangra (51 kg) put up a comprehensive win against Al-Mriheel.
Meanwhile, top-seed heavyweight (91kg) Naman Tanwar, who claimed a bronze at the world youth Championships defeated Jordan’s Eishaiah Hussein to enter his maiden senior semi-finals. Also entering the semis was Pooja who earned a direct entry owing to the small size of her draw.
Among the others, three time Asian champion Shiva Thapa (60kg) sailed into the quarters defeating Bhutan’s Dorji Wangdi in his opening clash and will next face Sherbek Rakhmatulleov of Uzbekistan. Reigning national champion Manish Kaushik (60kg) overcame Cuba’s Rabi Armando Martinez.
World championships quarter-finalist and Asian bronze-medallist Amit Phangal entered the last-eight without a fight tafter his rival Ramish Rahmani of Afghanistan gave him a walkover and will next face Cameroon’s Fotsala Simplice, who got defeated Malaysian Mohammad Fuad Bin Redzuan.
King’s Cup gold-medallist K Shyam Kumar (49kg) also progressed with a victory against compatriot Neeraj Swami. But it was curtain for world youth champion Sachin Siwach (49kg), who went down against Thailand’s Thani Narinram.