National women’s boxing c’ship: Winning start for Kavita

As Kavita Goyat started her campaign by recording a convincing 5-0 win over Uttar Pradesh's Renu in a first round bout, the 75kg defending champion pointed out that the increase in number of entries was due to the boxers' aspiration to compete in the Commonwealth and Asian Games later this year.

As Kavita Goyat started her campaign by recording a convincing 5-0 win over Uttar Pradesh's Renu in a first round bout, the 75kg defending champion pointed out that the increase in number of entries was due to the boxers' aspiration to compete in the Commonwealth and Asian Games later this year.

For Guangzhou Asian Games bronze medallist Kavita Goyat, this edition of the National women's boxing championship is more gruelling than ever.

As she started her campaign by recording a convincing 5-0 win over Uttar Pradesh's Renu in a first round bout, the 75kg defending champion pointed out that the increase in number of entries was due to the boxers' aspiration to compete in the Commonwealth and Asian Games later this year.

“This is the toughest National championship as one has to box for five rounds even in heavier weights (in order to win a gold medal). Never before have I seen so many competitors in heavier weight categories. The number of entries has increased because of the Commonwealth and Asian Games,” said Kavita.

Altogether 254 entries have been received by the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) for the event.

Analysing her fight, the lanky policewoman said she stuck to her plan of utilising the full duration of the bout and get some valuable match practice ahead of the crucial rounds.

“I want to go step by step and be at the top of my form for the Commonwealth and Asian Games. Doing well in this championship is important as the top finishers will automatically get selected to the National camp for the two mega events,” said 29-year-old Kavita.

Another experienced boxer and last year's gold medallist Seema Poonia also used her first round bout against Naganika Gonella of Telengana to gain some important ring time. Seema recorded a convincing 5-0 win in her 82kg first round outing.

Important results (preliminary round)

48kg: Rebecca Lalinmawii (Miz) bt Uma Bauri (WB) 5-0, Puja Ranpal (Skm) bt Mattaparthi Manasa (Tel) 3-2; 57kg: Kamla Bisht (Utk) bt Sangeetha M. (TN) RSC-R1; 60kg: Aradhana Patel (UP) bt Shiwani Kumar (Jha) 5-0, Monika (Har) bt Suparna Das (WB) RSC-R1; 64kg: Poonam Kaithwas (Mah) bt Sohini (Chd) 5-0; 69kg: Nupur (Har) bt Babita Bisht (Utk) 5-0; 75kg: Kavita Goyat (AIP) bt Renu (UP) 5-0; 81kg: Laxmi Padiya (Jha) bt Saara Qureshi (Tel) RSC-R1; Bhagyabati Kachari (RSPB) bt Himani (Chd) RSC-R2; 82kg: Arpita Singh (UP) bt Ravi Chandrika (AP) RSC-R1, Seema Poonia (RSPB) bt Naganika Gonella (Tel) 5-0.