Boxer Pooja fails to qualify for Olympics

India's disastrous campaign at the Women's World Boxing Championships continued as Pooja Rani failed to qualify for the Rio Olympics after losing in the second round here on Sunday.

A day after veterans M.C. Mary Kom and L. Sarita Devi exited the competition, Savannah Marshall of Great Britain ended India's Olympic berth hopes in the middle weight (75 kg) category with a 3-0 triumph over Pooja.

The World Championships are the final qualifying competition for the Rio Games to be held from August 5-21. Only three weight categories of 51 kg, 60 kg and 75 kg are part of the women's boxing competitions at the Olympics.

An entry into the semi-finals not only assures the boxer of a medal but also a berth for the Olympics.

However, the Indian boxers belonging to non-Olympic weight categories advanced to the pre-quarterfinals.

Light heavyweight (81 kg) boxer Saweety beat Victoriya Kebikava 2-1, while Sonia Lather trumped German Nomin Deutsch 3-0 to advance in the feather weight (57 kg) class.

Bantam weight (54 kg) pugilist Zareen NIikhat thumped Canadian Erica Adjei 3-0.

--IANS

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