Four India boxers — Nikhat Zareen (50kg), Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), Nitu Ghanghas (48kg) and Saweety Boora (81kg) — advanced to the final of the Women’s World Boxing Championships with stellar semi-final wins here on Thursday.

While Nikhat outpunched Rio Olympics bronze medallist Ingrit Valencia of Colombia 5-0, Nitu eked out a 5-2 victory over reigning Asian champion Alua Balkibekova of Kazakhstan.

Two-time World Championships bronze medallist Lovlina beat Li Qian of China by a 4-1 margin to book her maiden appearance in the final of the prestigious tournament.

Saweety too cruised into the title round with a 4-3 win over Australia’s Sue-Emma Greentree.

Reigning 52kg champion Nikhat, who is competing in the 50kg category, used her speed and tactical acumen to see off Valencia to keep alive her title defence.

Nikhat attacked in the opening two rounds and once she dominated the first six minutes, she started to defend.

The unanimous decision win is a testament to Nikhat’s skill and physical fitness as the boxer had to fight five bouts, including three back-toback ones, to reach the final. “Today (Thursday)’s bout was my best. I feel like I play better when I face technical boxers. I have played her before and she’s an experienced boxer. It was a clean game,” she said.

Two-time Asian champion Nguyen Thi Tam of Vietnam now stands in front of Nikhat and her second world championships gold.

In the first bout of the day, Nitu gave the hosts a thunderous start.

“I played from a distance last time (in Istanbul), so I was not able to recover. This time I played from close range,” Nitu said after the bout.

She will take on Lutsaikhan Altantsetseg of Mongolia in the final.