Hosts India kept its all-win record intact on the third day of the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships with Pinki Rani, Sonia and Simranjit Kaur notching up victories in their respective bouts to enter the pre-quarterfinals here on Saturday.
Sonia, a farmer's daughter from Haryana, secured a unanimous 5-0 win in 57kg category before seasoned campaigner Pinki (51kg) and Simranjit (64kg), who was fighting a bout after the death of her father in July, scored identical 4-1 wins to maintain a clean slate for the host country.
On Friday, Sarita Devi (60kg) and Manish Moun (54kg) had won their respctive bouts to enter the pre-quarterfinals.
On Sunday, five Indians, including five-time world champion M C Mary Kom, will take the field. The 35-year-old Mary Kom, who got a first round bye, will beginning her campaign against Aigerim Kessenayeva of Kazakhstan in 48kg.
Sonia was the first Indian to take the field and the 21-year-old used her "defensive" style to good effect to emerge winner in an unanimous 5-0 verdict against Doaa Toujani of Morocco.
It was a close bout with all the five judges giving 10-9 points in all the three rounds to either boxers. Toujani got only one favourable decision from a judge in the second round as Sonia won 29-28 30-27 30-27 30-27 30-27.
This was Sonia's first major international event having risen to senior level by winning a gold in the National Championships in 2016. Last year, she won a gold in the Serbia Cup. She won a bronze in the Ahmet Comert Boxing Tournament this year.
Sonia began with an open guard inviting the Morocco pugilist to take the initiative. The rookie Indian managed to land a couple of left jabs and a straight during the first round which looked a close one.
Sonia continued with her left jabs, trying to land on the real scoring areas of her opponent using her unconventional methods, especially with the right. The experienced Moroccan, too, changed her strategy and lowered the guard more out of frustration than
"I knew I had to maintain my distance and go close only to find openings. I was successful on a few occasions in the first two rounds. But in the third, I went attacking and used my combination punches."
"This is my third World Championships and I have not won a medal yet. This time, I want to make my countrymen happy by winning a medal."