Vietnamese boxer Nguyen Thi Tam lost 0-5 to world defending champion Nikhat Zareen of India in the light flyweight final match of the 2023 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi on Sunday evening, bringing home a silver medal.

Before the match, Zareen was considered the great hope for the host to secure the championship title. 

She was the defending champion in the 52kg class before moving down to the 50kg weight category.

The first round saw Zareen, who received great cheers from home spectators, launch many quality right-handed punches toward Tam.

The host boxer received five 10-point markings from judges, while the visiting fighter got five 9-point markings, losing the round.

In the next two rounds, Tam maintained her attacking tactic, but it made no difference. 

Meanwhile, Zareen proved to be an experienced fighter when she kept distance and maintained a moderate attacking tempo, securing a 5-0 win in the end.

The Indian boxer won a gold medal and a bonus of US$100,000 while Tam bagged a silver medal and $50,000.

Despite her loss, Tam has made history as the first Vietnamese boxer to reach the final of a world boxing tournament.

The Vietnamese fighter will fly home to prepare for the 2023 Southeast Asian Games, to be held in Cambodia in May, and the delayed 2022 Asian Games, scheduled to take place in China in September. 

Her goal is to win a ticket to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris from July 26 to August 11 next year.

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