Khelo Boxing: Devika, Laxmi keep Maharashtra's chances alive

Local pugilists Devika Ghorpade and Laxmi Patil Tuesday stormed into the semifinals of the girls under-17 boxing event of the Khelo India Youth Games here.

In the pinweight (46kg) class, Devika outboxed Goa's Aarti Chouhan 5-0 while Laxmi prevailed over Ayushi Awasthi of Madhya Pradesh in the light-fly (48kg) class, a media release said.

Devika is aiming to win gold in her maiden Khelo India Games.

"The major hurdle is Haryanas Rinku and we will face each other in the semifinals. I am preparing myself for that bout," said Devika.

Rinku beat statemate Rajni 5-0. The other semifinal will be between Assam's Priyanka Borah and Haryana's Tamanna.

Maharashtra's Prajkta Shinde went down fighting to Assam's Saraswati Boro 2-3 in the light bantam (52kg) category, it said.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra's challenge in the girls Under-21 division came to an end after Poonam Kaithwas went down to Haryanas Jony 5-0.

Meanwhile, the hosts have guaranteed six medals in the boys' categories.

In the boys' Under-17 light fly (48kg) class, Bishwamitra Chongtham defeated Punjab's Abhishek Singh by 4-1 score.

In 50kg, Shaikhom Singh defeated Delhi's Yash Kaushik 5-0.

Another Maharashtra pugilist to enter the semifinals was Yaiphaba Meitei, who scripted a 5-0 win over Bhinder Singh of Punjab.

Nikhil Dubey (middleweight, 75kg) and MD Rahil (welterweight) also booked berths in the boys Under-21 semi-finals with easy victories over Arshdeep Singh (Punjab) and Haryanas Sachin respectively, while Shahikant Yadav (light welter) got a walkover from Abhishek Yadav (Uttar Pradesh), the release stated.