Two more medals assured: Pooja, Jaismine shine in Liverpool

Hyderabad’s boxing fans had reason to smile on Friday as two of India’s best,veteran Pooja Rani and rising star Jaismine Lamboria,punched their way into the semifinals at the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, guaranteeing India at least two more medals at the tournament.

Pooja Rani used experience and patience to edge Poland’s Emilia Koterska 3–2 in a tight women’s 80kg quarterfinal. After ceding the first round, Pooja steadied the fight in the second, took control and then managed the final rounds with a cautious, smart game plan that did what veterans do best: turn small openings into big advantages. Jaismine, by contrast, was ruthless from the first bell,she dominated Uzbekistan’s Under-22 Asian champion Mamajonova Khumorabonu 5-0 in the women’s 57kg, never letting her opponent find a rhythm.

These results add to the medal assured earlier by World Boxing Cup Astana gold medallist Nupur,meaning India will leave Liverpool with at least three podium finishes. Two other Indians, Meenakshi (48kg) and Jadumani Singh Mandengbam (50kg), are one win away from guaranteeing themselves medals when they box their quarterfinals.

The day also carried a sting: former world champion Nikhat Zareen and Abhinash Jamwal fell at the quarter stage. Nikhat lost to Turkey’s two-time Olympic silver medallist Buse Naz Cakiroglu in a close contest decided by the judges, while Jamwal went down 1-4 to Georgia’s Paris Olympic bronze medallist Guruli Lasha. Those defeats underline how razor-thin margins are at this level,a single round, an aggressive flurry, or judges’ calls can change a campaign’s course.

A few clear takeaways: India’s women’s squad is showing depth,mixing seasoned heads and hungry youngsters,and that balance is paying off. The men’s side still has sparks but needs greater consistency against Olympic-calibre opponents. With this World Championships being staged under the newly formed World Boxing body, performances here will weigh heavily on rankings and momentum going forward.

If India wants more golds, the focus should be on sharpening early-round tactics, studying opponents’ styles quickly, and converting semifinal guarantees into final-round hunger. For now, celebrate the assured medals,and keep an eye on Friday’s quarterfinals; more drama is promised.