Pooja Rani, 8 other Indian boxers storm into Boxam International finals

Asian Championship gold medalist Pooja Rani has entered the finals of the Boxam International boxing tournament in Spain, which will be played on Saturday, ANI reported. She reached the final by defeating world champion Atheyna Bylon of Panama in the semi-final bout.

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In the final, she will square off against Melissa Graham of the United States.

Pooja isn’t the only female Indian boxers heading for the finals. She has been joined by debutant Jasmine (57kg) and Simranjit (60kg).

Jasmine, who is playing her first senior International tournament, bagged a spot in the finals by defeating Italy’s Sirine Charaabi. In the final, she’ll be up against European Champion Irma Testa.

World Championship bronze medallist Simranjit squared off against Puerto Rican Boxer Kiria Tapia in the semi-final bout. The close encounter saw Simarjit ensuring a close 3-2 win over her opponent. In the final, she’ll be up against World Championship Bronze medallist Rashida Ellis.

It was an exceptional performance for the men as all six male players made it to the finals.

Commonwealth Games Bronze Medallist Mohammed Hussamuddin (57kg) will be up against Puerto Rico’s Paul Rivera, after he defeated Panama’s Orlando Martinez 4-1 in the semi-final.

World Championship Bronze medallist Manish Kaushik (63kg) too made it to the finals by winning the semi-final bout against France’s Lounes Hamraoui. In the final, he’ll face Denmark’s Nikolai Terteryan.

Vikas Krishan (69 kg) defeated Kazakhstan’s Ablaikhan Zhussupov in the semi-final and will square off against local boy Youba Sissokho in the final.

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Ashish Kumar (75kg), Sumit Sangwan (81kg) and Satish Kumar (91+kg) are the other three boxers who’ve made it to the finals.