Two sessions of intense Quarter-Finals took over the Nabin Chandra Bardoloi Indoor Stadium in Guwahati, north-east India on Wednesday, leaving 19 teams still chasing the 2017 Women’s Youth World titles. Boxers from India, Kazakhstan and Russia dominated the day, but there were plenty of talking points once more as the quality of boxing shone out on Day Four of the competition.

The afternoon session got underway with a superb Flyweight (51kg) bout between USA’s Junior World Champion Heaven Garcia and Kazakhstan’s Zhansaya Abdraimova, and it was the brave Kazakh who’s greater attacking prowess earned the tight split decision. She will now meet India’s Jyoti on Friday, comfortable winner over Italian Giovanna Marchesi.

Jyoti’s Flyweight (57kg) teammate Shashi Chopra used her powerful jab to good effect as she overcame the challenge from Kazakhstan’s Sandugash Abilkhan, before Thailand’s Thanchanok Saksri edged a split decision against Poland’s resilient Patrycja Borys to set up a last-four tie with local hero Ankushita Boro, winner over the ever-energetic Italian Rebecca Nicoli.

English Middleweight (75kg) Georgia O’Connor put an end to the Indian winning streak and guaranteed herself a medal with three excellent rounds against Niharika Gonella. O’Connor will now meet Chinese Taipei’s Ya-Chu Yang on Friday for a place in the final and a potential spot at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

The start of the evening session saw China’s Nie Yuan continue her impressive run in Guwahati against Ukraine’s Olha Shalimova. Yuan rarely looked in trouble as she controlled the distance, using her longer reach to excellent effect, but teammate Lu Xia was unable to continue her team’s momentum as she went out of the Bantamweight (54kg) competition to Sakshi Choudhary. India’s Junior World Champion will now face Japan’s Sena Irie, winner over Poland’s Daria Puszka.

The Lightweight (60kg) competition saw Australian Ella Boot progress into her first major Semi-Final with an aggressive display against Hungary’s Veronika Villas, before Italy’s Vittoria De Carlo was able to once more overcome Russian National Champion Tatiana Konstantinova by split decision.

Indian Welterweight (69kg) Astha Pahwa was relentless in her pursuit of victory against Canser Oltu, but as she ran out of steam it was the Turkish talent’s defensive prowess that won out over the three rounds, Oltu erupting in emotion as she edged the split decision to reach the last four.

Thursday will see a rest day in Guwahati ahead of Friday’s first Semi-Finals, when the Flyweight (51kg), Featherweight (57kg), Light Welterweight (64kg), Middleweight (75kg) and Heavyweight (+81kg) boxers will be in action.

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