10 Indian boxers including Lovlina, Pooja get first-round byes; 4 Indians to take charge on day 1 of World Boxing C'ships

Liverpool [UK], September 3 (ANI): The Indian contingent for the World Boxing Championships, which is underway at Liverpool, UK on Thursday, have been handed a decent draw with medal contender Hitesh Gulia (men's 70kg), Abhinash Jamwal (men's 65kg), Nikhat Zareen (women's 51kg) and Lovlina Borgohain (women's 70kg) avoiding tricky opponents early in the competition.

While Gulia, Jamwal, Lovlina have a bye in the opening round, Nikhat Zareen will take on Jennifer Lozana of USA, as per a press release from Boxing Federation of India (BFI).

The 20-Indian contingent is focused on putting together a strong performance at the inaugural World Championships being held under the aegis of the World Boxing - a recently formed international governing body for boxing -- and their chances have definitely been boosted by the return of Nikhat, former world champion and Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina.

Both Nikhat and Lovlina have not played any international event this year but were impressive in the domestic circuit and dominated the trials.

Indian boxers have impressed in the two World Boxing Cup competitions in Brazil and Kazakhstan winning a total of 17 medals, including four gold.

The World Boxing Championships will be the first time that both men and women competitions will be held together and over 544 boxers from 68 national federations will be competing in 20 weight categories.

Among the other medal contenders in fray for India, Sakshi (women's 54kg) will open her campaign against Viktoriia Shkeul of Ukraine, while Jaismine Lamboria (women's 57kg) will have a tough second-round battle against Brazil's upcoming star boxer Jucielen Cerqueira Romeu once she gets past Daria-Olha Hutarina of Ukraine in the opening round.

Jaismine had got the better of Romeu in the final of the World Boxing Cup in Astana and should be confident of repeating that performance in Liverpool.

Hitesh and Abhinash have been placed in different halves of the draw from their closest challengers Kainan Oliveira and Yuri Falcao (both from Brazil) respectively and should be favourites to reach the summit clash of their respective weight categories.

Four Indian boxers will be in action on the opening day of competition with Pawan Bartwal (men's 55kg) kicking off India's campaign against Brazil's Michael Douglas Trindade with Sakshi (women's 54kg), the experienced Sanamacha Chanu (women's 70kg) and Harsh Choudhary (men's 90kg) in action in the evening session.

First round clashes of Indian players
Women's
48kg - Meenakshi Hooda vs bye
51kg - Nikhat Zareen vs Jennifer Lozana (USA)
54kg - Sakshi vs Viktoriia Shkeul (UKR)
57kg - Jaismine Lamboria vs Daria-Olha Hutarina (UKR) next round upcoming Brazilian Jucielen Cerqueira Romeu
60kg - Sanju Khatri vs Aneta Rygielska (POL)
65kg - Neeraj Phogat vs Krista Kovalainen (FIN)
70kg - Sanamacha Chanu vs Ditte Frostholm (DEN)
75kg - Lovlina Borgohain vs bye
80kg - Pooja Rani vs bye
80+kg - Nupur Sheoran vs bye

Men's
50kg - Jadumani Singh Mandengbam vs bye
55kg - Pawan Bartwal vs Michael Douglas Da Silva Trindade
60kg - Sachin Siwach Jr vs bye
65kg - Abhinash Jamwal vs bye
70kg - Hitesh Gulia vs bye
75kg - Sumit Kundu vs Mohammad Alhussien (JOR)
80kg - Lakshya Chahar vs bye
85kg - Jugnoo Ahlawat vs bye
90kg - Harsh Chaudhary vs Adam Tutak (POL)
90+kg - Narender Berwal vs Martin McDonagh (IRL). (ANI)