New Delhi, May 28: India’s assured medal tally swelled to eight on a bitter-sweet day which saw former World Championship silver medallist N Usha suffering a shock quarterfinal defeat in the Asian Women’s Boxing Championship in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Priyanka Chaudhary (54kg) clinched it by the smallest of margins against Minova Ayako of Japan after fighting out a tense quarter-final bout, yesterday.
Priyanka was tied 1-1 with Ayako in the opening round.
She nosed ahead to 2-1 in the second round but Ayako fought back to make it 3-3 at the end of the regulation four rounds.
The Indian was declared winner after accepted individual scores put her 7-5 ahead of her rival.
Pavitra (57kg), on the other hand, had no trouble getting past another Japanese Kugimiya Tomoko 11-2. The Indian led all through the bout and was never troubled by her rival.
–PTI