Nepal sent two women boxers to the Championships after strong preparations in Kathmandu where their selection events have been held.

Tamang has developed well in terms of speed and punching power in recent years and she used the pandemic period to upgrade her skills.

The fruits of her labour became evident in her bout against Lithuania’s Dija Bajalyte who competed at the last edition of the European Youth Boxing Championships.

The Nepal boxer was a hard target for the Lithuanian in the first round and took the lead on the scorecards before stepping things up in the second round.

The referee had to count the Lithuanian in that period which increased Tamang’s motivation to finish the bout before the final gong.

Tamang landed powerful punches in the third round when the referee stopped their contest after the standing counts and the Nepal boxer was into the quarter-finals.

"I am so happy that I could win my contest at the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships here in Kielce," she said.

"This event is my first international competition and I was so excited before the start of the bout.

"I could follow my tactic, thanks to my coaches and it is a fantastic feeling that I am in the quarter-finals.

"I am proud that I am Nepali."

Meanwhile two favourites in the 48kg category, India’s Gitika and Russia’s European Boxing Confederation women’s champion Diana Ermakova met in the first preliminary round, with the Indian fighter advancing on a 5-0 decision.

Italy’s Erika Prisciandaro, who has already won two European titles, made a strong start with a 5-0 win over Ugmar Baba from Turkey in her first bout.

After a first round bye, talented Farzona Fozilova from Uzbekistan won her first bout 5-0 over her Mongolian opponent, and Poland’s Natalia Kuczewska is also through to the last eight.

The 51-kilograms flyweight division was the most eagerly awaited in the women’s competition and it has lived up to its billing so far.

Five strong and experienced champions set out in pursuit of the 51kg title, although Japan’s unbeaten hope Hikaru Shinohara was unable to contest her first bout.

Like Shinohara, India’s Naorem Babyrojisana Chanu won gold at the Asian Youth Championships in Ulaanbaatar in 2019 and she advanced to the quarter-finals after the referee stopped her contest with Diane Gorisnaja of Estonia.

Uzbekistan’s Feruza Kazakova had been unbeaten for a year and a half since winning the Asian junior title, but she was defeated 3-2 by home boxer and European youth champion Alexas Kubicki.

Russia’s European junior champion Valeria Linkova has also reached the quarter-finals on a 5-0 decision.

The 54kg bantamweight was the most crowded weight category with 20 boxers, with Russia’s Anastasia Kirienko, a 5-0 winner over Greece’s Antonia Giannakopoulou, and Uzbekistan’s Asian junior champion Nigina Uktamova, unbeaten in the last two years, the ones to watch.

India’s unbeaten Asian youth champion Poonam has moved up to the 57kg featherweight class recently and had continued to impress.

Elsewhere in the division, Montenegro’s three-time European champion as junior and youth boxer, Bojana Gojkovic, is the country’s best-ever female boxer who has high expectations in Kielce.

India’s Asian Boxing Confederation Asian youth champion Vinka moved down to the 60kg lightweight this year and she is still small in the category but her attacking style could be challenging for all opponents.

She was the favourite against Russia’s newcomer Daria Panteleeva in the first preliminary round but only progressed on a 3-2 decision.

Romania’s best female boxer, European youth champion Loredana Andreea Marin, also has strong expectations.

Russia’s European youth champion Azalia Amineva is the favourite for the gold medal in the 64kg category, especially after her 5-0 opening win over Italy’s Miriam Tommasone.

India’s Arundhati Choudhary, voted best Asian Women’s Junior Boxer of the Year in 2018 has gained a lot of experience since that award and will be a gold medal hope in the 69kg class.

Italy’s Melissa Gemini and Russia’s Anastasia Kholueva were the previous two gold medallists at the European Youth Championships.

Kholueva’s first rival will be Poland’s strong challenger Barbara Marcinkowska.

India’s Asian youth champion Sanamacha Thokchom Chanu and Poland’s European youth champion Daria Parada are the main gold medal contenders in the women’s 75kg middleweight class, where nine boxers are registered to attend.

Six boxers entered the 81kg category, with Turkey’s three-time European champion Busra Isildar returning after a break from the sport.

Poland’s Martyna Jancelewicz and Russia’s Ksenia Olifirenko are now guaranteed medallists and both could be strong rivals for Isildar.

India’s Alfiya Tarannum Akram Khan is the Asian junior champion in the over-81kg category and she is aiming for another gold in Kielce.