In the World Boxing Championships, Indian boxers Sakshi, Thokchom Sanamacha Chanu, and Pawan Bartwal won their respective bouts at Liverpool, UK, last night, providing India with a winning start. 

 

 

In the Men’s 55 kg bout, Bartwal got the better of Brazil’s Michael Douglas Trindade, while Sakshi made a strong start, outclassing Ukrainian opponent Viktoriia Shkeul in the women’s 54 kg category. She won the opening round 5-0 before sealing the contest in the second round with an impressive RSC (Referee Stopped Contest) victory. On the other hand, Thokchom Chanu posted a hard-fought victory as she overcame Denmark’s Ditte Frostholm 4-1 in the 70kg category.

 

 

Other than this, 10 Indian boxers, including Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain, medal contender Hitesh Gulia and Abhinash Jamwal got first-round byes. India has fielded a 20-member contingent at the inaugural World Championships, being held under the aegis of the World Boxing Council, a recently formed international governing body for boxing.