Asian Games boxing: Pavitra through to quarters

The bout did not go beyond the opening round as the referee stopped the contest after Pakistan’s Rukhsana Perveen was knocked down twice.

The 31-year-old Pavitra (in blue) is making her debut at the Games, having replaced former world and Asian champion L. Sarita Devi in the lightweight category.

Indian boxer Pavitra advanced to the quarterfinals in the 60kg class at the Asian Games after out-classing Pakistan’s Rukhsana Perveen in a bout that did not go beyond the opening round in Jakarta on Saturday.

Pavitra, a former National Games gold medallist, was at her ferocious best in the contest, resulting in two knockdowns for Perveen in the first round. The referee didn’t take long to stop the contest in the Indian’s favour after that.

The score-sheet at that point was unanimously 10-8 in Pavitra’s favour.

The 31-year-old is making her debut at the Games, having replaced former world and Asian champion L. Sarita Devi in the lightweight category.

Pavitra has been an Asian Championships bronze medallist, albeit in the 57kg category. She had claimed a gold medal at the Asian Games test event held earlier this year in the country.