Kathmandu, January 31

Nepali boxers Bimala Shrestha and Punam Rawal lost their semi-final bouts of the Indian Open International Boxing Tournament in New Delhi today.

In 54kg weight category match, Shrestha lost to India’s Manisha 5-0 and was restricted to bronze medal. Shrestha had defeated Tajikistan’s Farida Samieva in the quarter-final match to confirm the medal.

Similarly, Rawal, who had also confirmed bronze medal beating Kholova Idimokh of Tajikistan, was beaten by India’s Basumatary Pwilao in the semi-final match of 64kg category.

On Tuesday, Manohar Basnet lost to Kazakhstan’s Zhussip Kuandyk in men’s 81kg event, while Bhupendra Thapa Magar faced defeat against Dheeraj of India in 64kg event and Bishnu Prasad Ghale was beaten by Uzbekistan’s Baturov Bobo-Usmon in 69kg weight category.

The defeats meant Nepal’s campaign in the tournament was over. Nepal had fielded six each men and women boxers in the tournament participated in by  players from 23 countries.