Digital Desk: The women's boxing
division of the Commonwealth Games, which get underway here on Thursday with
the opening ceremony, has been given relatively easy opening round draws to
world champion Nikhat Zareen and reigning Olympic bronze medalist Lovlina
Borgohain..
On Sunday, Nikhat will
face Helena Ismael Bagao of Mozambique in the women's 48–50 kg light flyweight
division to begin her campaign. In the quarterfinals, she would face another
straightforward foe in Helen Jones of Wales if she prevailed.
In her initial light
middle weight (66-70kg) matchup on Saturday, Lovlina will also compete against
the less well-known Ariane Nicholson of New Zealand. If she prevails, she will
face Rosie Eccles of Wales, the silver medalist from the Gold Coast, in the quarterfinals.
The Welsh boxer, who
took home a silver in 2016 and a bronze in 2019, had a bye in the opening
round.
Jasmine, who received
a first-round bye in the lightweight (57-60kg) division, will compete
immediately in the quarterfinals.
But on August 4,
Jasmine will face up against Troy Garton of New Zealand, who won the bronze
medal at the 2018 Gold Coast Games.
Nitu only needs to win
in order to win a medal in the women's minimal weight (45-48kg) division
because there are only eight other boxers in the draw. On August 3, she will
compete against Northern Ireland's Nicole Clyde in the quarterfinals.
On August 1 in the
flyweight (48-51 kg) division, Asian Games gold medalist and 2018 CWG silver
medalist Amit Panghal will begin his campaign against Namri Berri of Vanuatu.
On the other hand, on
July 30, South African Amzolele Dyeyi will compete in Mohammad Hussamuddin's
opening featherweight (54-5kg) matchup after winning bronze at the most recent
CWG.
In the light welterweight (60 to 63.5kg) division, former Asian and World Championship medalist Shiva Thapa will face Pakistan's Suleman Baloch in the opening round on Friday. Welterweight (63.5 to 67kg) fighter Rohit Tokas received a first-round bye and will face Alfred Kotey of Ghana in his follow-up fight on August 2.
In the middleweight (71-75kg) division, Sumit also received a first-round bye and will compete against Australian Callum Peters on Sunday.
Sanjeet will meet Ato Leau Plodzicki-Faogali of SAM in the heavyweight first round on August 1, while Ashish Kumar will face Travis Tapatuetoa of Niue in the men's light heavyweight (75 to 80 kg) event after receiving a bye in the opening round.
