Boxing
Asian Boxing C'ships: Deepali Thapa becomes 1st ever schoolgirl champion
Deepali defeated Ukraine’s Liudmyla Vasylchenko to win the 33kg gold medal as India won seven medals at the Asian Schoolgirl Championships so far.
India's Deepali Thapa in action at the Asian Schoolgirl Boxing Championships. (Photo credit: PB-SHABD/X)
India's Deepali Thapa created history as she became the first-ever schoolgirl champion in the history of the Asian Championships in Al Ain, UAE, on Sunday. India so far won seven medals at the Championships.
Deepali, competing in the girl's 33kg category, trounced Kazakhstan’s Anelya Ordabek in the semifinals.
In the final, up against Ukraine’s Liudmyla Vasylchenko, Deepali showed superior technique and control to claim the title.
Following Deepali was Bhoomi, the winner of India’s Talent Hunt Programme. Bhoomi clinched the 35kg category gold medal, thumping Kazakhstan’s Assel Jalimbekova.
Nischal Sharma took India's gold medal tally to three, winning the 37kg category final against Ukraine’s Maria Matsiura.
In the 43kg category, Rakhi gave India their fourth title as she outperformed Ukraine’s Veronika Holub with a strong finish.
Naitik, meanwhile, won the 52kg final against Kazakhstan’s Arina Orazymbetl.
Laxmi Manjunath Lamani, however, went down in the 40kg final as she lost to Ukraine’s Oleksandra Cherevata, while Navya lost to Ukraine's Anhelina Rumiantseva in the 55kg category semifinal.
India's Diya also lost in the 61kg final. But Gurseerat Kaur won the 70kg weight category final.
Trushana Vinayak Mohite and Manshi Malik also lost in the semifinals and final.
Despite their defeat, India dominated the tournament, featuring 26 countries, winning seven medals.
Kazakhstan’s Assel Jalimbekova and Ukraine’s Maria Rafalska, who showcased their skill and determination across various weight classes, are among the notable non-Indian performers at the Championships.
