Strandja Memorial Boxing: Nikhat, Shiva in quarters

Four-time Asian medallist Shiva Thapa (63kg) and defending champion Nikhat Zareen (51kg) sailed into the quarter-finals of the Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament with resounding victories in their second-round bouts in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Wednesday.

Also making the quarters was national medallist Duryodhan Singh Negi (69kg) after a comprehensive 5-0 triumph over Ireland's Kieran Molloy.

Zareen was declared the winner after local favourite and former champion Sevda Asenova abandoned the contest during the opening round.

Former world bronze-medallist Thapa, who had received an opening round bye, defeated Poland's Pavel Polakovic 5-0 in the last 16 stage bout.

Former world bronze-medallist Thapa, had received an opening round bye, defeated Poland's Pavel Polakovic 5-0 in their last 16 stage bout. 

In other men's bouts, Commonwealth Games bronze-winner Mohammed Hussamuddin (57kg) advanced after defeating France's Enzo Grau in a 1-4 verdict.

There was disappointment elsewhere as India endured six opening-round defeats on Tuesday evening.

Among the men, South Asian Games gold-medallist Ankit Khatana (75kg), Asian silver-medallist Deepak Kumar (52kg), Narender (+91kg), and Naveen Kumar (91kg) made early exits.

Nupur (75kg) and Lalita (69kg) were the ones to bow out in the women's draw. Nupur was outpunched 0-5 by France's Davina Michel, while Lalita lost 1-4 to Poland's Karolina Koszewska.

Khatana was beaten 0-5 by the USA's Javier Martinez. Narender also lost by a similar margin to another American -- Richard Torrez Jr.

Deepak went down 1-4 to Spain's Gabriel Escobar. Naveen lost 0-5 to Italy's Abbes Mouhiidine.

The tournament is hosting 250-plus boxers from over 30 countries.