World youth champion Shashi Chopra understood the value of experience when she got the better of defending champion Sonia by the skin of her teeth in a 57kg semifinal bout in the National women's boxing championship at the Rajiv Gandhi Sports Complex here on Thursday.
Shashi's experience of facing a similar boxer, Vietnamese Hung Do in the final of the World youth championship in Guwahati in November, helped her as she beat Sonia 3-2 to be in the final on her debut in the Nationals.
The waiting game between the two counter-punchers was an intriguing affair as it provided the suspense as to who would make the first move.
Sonia, who moved from Haryana to Andhra Pradesh, maintained her composure to invite the opponent into her trap. However, Shashi resisted the temptation to stay safe. The youngster landed some accurate left shots and ducked nicely to evade Sonia's attacks.
“I knew it would be a tough bout. Facing a counter-puncher is never easy whether it is the World youth championship or the Nationals. My left worked well for me,” said Shashi, who would meet Asian championship silver medallist Sonia Lather in the final.
Young Haryana girl Ritu showed her big heart as she upset former World junior champion Nikhat Zareen 4-1 in a close 51kg contest.
Ritu closed the gap to neutralise Nikhat's blows and cleverly delivered punches to set up a title clash with former World youth champion Sarjubala Devi.
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