Indian pugilist Preeti defied the odds as she stunned the 2022 World Championships silver medallist Lacramioara Perijoc in a thrilling encounter while Nitu Ghanghas and Manju Bamboriya also secured emphatic victories in the Mahindra IBA Women's World Boxing Championships here on Saturday.
The tenacious Preeti (54kg) who won bronze at the 2022 Asian Championships registered her second win of the ongoing tournament being held at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex here, as she conquered the Romanian Perijoc with a 4-3 win on points after the bout was reviewed. The Haryana-born pugilist's energetic approach helped her get off to a strong start with her solid punches and quick feet catching her opponent by surprise in the first round.
Following a cautious start, Perijoc made an impressive comeback in the second round to make the bout a closely contested affair. While both pugilists were going toe to toe against each other, it was Preeti's technical ability and conviction that helped her overpower her opponent and edge her out in the final round to secure victory. The Indian will now face another silver medallist of last year's World Championships Jutamas Jitpong of Thailand in the Round of 16.
