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Women's World Boxing: Rookie and veteran set the tone as Sarita Devi, Manisha Moun make winning start

India’s Manisha, Sarita Devi register wins in contrasting style as hosts kick off their campaign

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India’s Sarita Devi (red) lands a punch on Sandra Diana of Switzerland in their women’s 60kg bout in New Delhi on Friday
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Indian campaign at the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships got off to a winning start with rookie boxer Manisha Moun and veteran Laishram Sarita Devi registering contrasting wins in their 54kg and 60kg categories, respectively, here on Friday.

While Manisha was a treat to watch as she outclassed former world champion Christina Cruz of the US 5:0, it was a bit of a struggle for Sarita to emerge winner on a split point verdict against her much younger opponent from Switzerland, Sandra Diana, in the lightweight category.

The 21-year-old boxer from Haryana, Manisha looked in complete control during the entire three rounds against an opponent who is almost 15 years her senior. She began with a flurry of punches against the two-time World bronze medallist, stunning her with her approach.

By the time the American, known for her counter-attacks, found her feet in the second round, Manisha gained that vital confidence and did not allow her experienced rival to come back.

Barring a minute or so in the second round, it was the Indian pugilist who dominated the bout with her swift movement inside the ring.

Fresh from her recent showing at the Indian Open and Silesian Women's Boxing in Poland, Manisha hardly allowed her opponent to come back in the third by landing straight and combination punches.

All the five judges gave her a unanimous verdict: 29-28, 30-27, 30-26, 30-26, 29-28.

"That was the gameplan. My coaches told me that I need to land my solid right punch occasionally to score," Manisha told DNA.

Asked if she was tensed before the bout, the BA final year student from Kaithal said: "I'm so fresh even now. I was certainly not tensed and entered the arena with a fresh mind. My coaches advised me to play from a distance."


India’s Manisha Moun (blue) celebrates her win over Christina Cruz of USA

Manisha is not bothered about her tough next match against reigning world champion Dina Zholaman of Kazakhstan. "I have one-all record against Dina as I have defeated her recently in Poland. I'm not really tensed. Rather, I'm more confident after today's show about my chances now," Manisha said.

Sarita gets lucky

Later in the day, Sarita, the 36-year-old boxer from Manipur, used her experience of nearly two decades to overcome her younger rival in a split decision.

Playing in the World Championships after a gap of 12 years, Sarita began with a left-right to unsettle Sandra. It was only after a minute or so that the Swiss pugilist came back to land a few left punches on Sarita.

In the second round, both boxers exchanged punches but Sandra's age gave her the age. Though Sarita's never-say-die attitude kept her in the bout, her movement was slow and even punches appeared to lack power. Towards the end, Sandra sent down a few lefts on a tiring Sarita.

But once Sarita got her breath back after a gap, she showed here tactical superiority in the third by landing calculative straight punches to force the Swiss boxer to rethink on her attacking strategy.

In the end, Sarita won with a split 4-0 verdict (28-28, 29-28, 30-27, 29-28, 29-28), the third judge giving full points to the Indian while the first giving nine points to each pugilist.

Results (Indians only)

5:0 – 54kg: Manisha Moun (IND) bt Christina Cruz (USA)

4:0 – 60kg: Sarita Devi (IND) bt Sandra Diana (SUI)

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