World Championships silver-medallist Sarjubala Devi (48kg) stood one win away from collecting her third Senior National Championships gold even as a couple of fancied names settled for bronze medals after semifinal losses here today.
It was smooth sailing for Sarjubala (48kg), a former junior World silver-medallist, wasn't troubled much in going past Railways Sports Promotion Board's (RSPB) Rajesh Narwal.
Sarjubala was the unanimous choice of the judges at the end of the regulation four rounds. The Manipuri will be up against Uttarakhand's Krishna Thapa, who edged past Haryana's Monika.
The shock of the day was junior world champion Nikhat Zareen's loss to Haryana's Neeraja. The flyweight bout went 4-1 in Neeraja's favour despite the boxer receiving two warnings for excessive pushing and clinching.
In what was a rather messy contest, it was Neeraja's rough play that scored over Nikhat's calculated attacks for the judges adjudicating the bout.
"I was shocked when her hand was raised because after two warnings, there is no way one can win it 4-1. There were hardly any clear punches from her side," a disappointed Nikhat said after settling for a bronze in her maiden Senior Nationals.
Neeraja will face RSPB's Meenakshi after she defeated Uttarakhand's Poonam Bist 4-1.
Elsewhere, local favourite Kamla Bist, who had caused the biggest upset of the tournament by beating current World Championships silver-medallist Sonia Lather, continued her onwards march and entered final.
The boxer-cum-coach defeated All India Police's Sunita 5-0 to make the summit clash where she will face Haryana's Soniya. Soniya got the better of Uttar Pradesh's Shaily Singh 4-1.
Former Asian Games bronze-medallist Kavita Goyat (75kg) was up against RSPB's Meena Rani and although it was at best a patchy performance, Kavita sneaked into the final with a split 3-2 verdict in her favour.
The veteran was even warned for excessive bending in the third round of the clash but did just about enough to make the final. Kavita will now be up against Arunachal Pradesh's Rumi Gogoi, who defeated Haryana's Bunty.
(REOPENS SPD 15)
Former World Championships silver-medallist Saweety Boora squared off against RSPB's Bhagyavati K and prevailed 5-0 to make the final, where Al Inida Police's Nirmala awaits her tomorrow.
Nirmala scored a Technical Knockout in the first round in her clash against Telangana's Priya Madhuri.
Two-time world bronze-medallist Kavita Chahal (82kg) won 4-1 against Mizoram's Lalafakamawii to advance to summit clash, where she will face RSPB's Seema Poonia.
Overall, Haryana had an astonishing 10 boxers in the semifinals and eight of them made the final followed by RSPB, who had seven in fray today of which three advanced to the finals.
