Manju Rani (48kg) became the first Indian woman boxer in the past 18 years to enter the finals of the World Boxing Championships in her maiden appearance as she beat Thailand’s Chuthamat Raksat 4-1 on Saturday.
Sixth-seeded Rani is now the lone Indian boxer remaining at the tournament in Ulan-Ude, Russia, after Mary Kom, Manju Rani, Lovlina Borgohain signed off with bronze medals.
Rani, who hails from Haryana, made the national camp only this year. She put on a gutsy show against the more muscular Raksat as she relied on counter-attacks in the first two rounds, the Strandja Memorial silver-medallist went on the offensive in the final three minutes.
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She rattled the Thai with her ferocious combination punches, piercing through her shell guard with forceful straight punches.
“I had fought this Thai girl earlier too so that experience came in handy. This is the biggest win of my career so far and I am very very happy,” Rani told PTI referring to her earlier fight against Raksat.
Rani will take on second-seeded Russian Ekaterina Paltceva in the summit clash on Sunday.
( With inputs from PTI )
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