NEW DELHI, Aug 1: Asian gold-medallist Pooja Rani (75kg) and world bronze-winner Lovlina Borgohain (69kg), along with two others Indians, entered the semifinals of the Magomed Salam Umakhanov Memorial International Boxing Tournament in Kaspiysk, Russia.
India Open gold medallist Neeraj (57kg) and former world youth bronze-medallist Jony (60kg) were the other two to make the semifinals on Wednesday night.
A bronze-medallist from the Strandja Memorial Cup earlier this year, Lovlina defeated Russia�s Anastasiya Sigaeva 5-0 to be assured of a medal. She will next take on Alina Veber of Belarus for a place in the final.
Pooja rebounded from a shock loss at the India Open in May with a 4-1 victory over Russia�s Laura Mamedkulova.
Neeraj also secured a 4-1 win over Russian Sayana Sagataeva.
Jony clinched a 5-0 win over Anastasiya Obushenkova of Belarus.
Former Commonwealth Games bronze-medallist Pinki Jangra (51kg) was the only one among the Indian women to bow out in the quarterfinal stage. The 2018 India Open champion suffered a 0-5 loss to Yuliya Apanasovich of Belarus.
Among the men, Ashish Insha (52kg) beat Azerbaijan�s Salman Alizade 4-1 to enter the quarterfinals.
He joined 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Gaurav Solanki (56kg), GeeBee Boxing silver-medallist Govind Sahani (49kg) and 2018 India Open gold medallist Sanjeet (91kg) in the last-eight stage.
Six Indian men and five women were in fray at the 21st edition of this tournament that features over 200 boxers from 21 countries. � PTI
