Astana (Kazakhstan), May 19 -- Five-time champion M C Mary Kom (51 kg) and former Asian gold-medallist L Sarita Devi (60 kg) won their opening bouts in the respective weight categories at the AIBA World Women's Boxing Championships on Thursday.
Mary Kom defeated Sweden's Juliana Soderstrom 3-0 to set up a clash on Saturday with Germany's Azize Nimani, who beat Asian Games bronze-medallist Nandintsetseg Myagmardulam of Mongolia. Sarita Devi defeated Belarus' Ala Yarshevich 3-0 and set up a clash with Mexico's Victoria Torres, who got a bye in her opening bout.
May Kom, an Asian Games gold-medallist, who is eyeing not just a medal but also an Olympic berth in this event, used her left hooks and improved reflexes to good effect against Soderstrom, who failed to capitalise on her reach.
The prestigious event -- the final qualifying tournament for women boxers in the three Olympic categories of 51kg, 60kg, and 75kg -- has 12 Rio tickets on offer, which means the boxers will have to at least make the semifinals of the three chosen divisions to book their berth.
Pooja Rani (75 kg) faces Ukraine's Mariya Borutsa in her opening bout on Friday.