Indian women boxers made a resounding start at the third Indoor Asian Games with L Sarita Devi (54kg) and N Usha (57kg) advancing to the medal rounds of the event with thumping wins in their respective quarterfinal bouts in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Saturday.
Sarita was pitted against Ayako Minowa and although the Japanese boxer put up a brave fight, she was no match for the agile Indian who kept jabbing and scoring at will.
Sarita led 6-2 in the first round and increased it to 8-2 after the second. She eventually won 16-5 to set up a semifinal clash with local favourite Lien Doan Thi on November 2.
Usha took on Koroleva Oxana of Kazakhstan overcame a jittery start to notch a 12-1 win. She also faces local hope, Chung Ngo Thi, in her semifinal bout on November 2.
On Sunday, four-time world champion and Khel Ratna awardee M C Mary Kom will face Ting Lo Yueh of Taipei in the 46 kg category. In 51kg, Chhoto Loura will take on Kumari Nilmini of Sri Lanka.
