Veteran L Sarita Devi and rookie Manisha Mouna gave India a flying start in the women's World Boxing Championships with dominating victories in their respective bouts here on Friday.
While Manisha punched above her weight to outclass veteran American Christina Cruz in an unanimous verdict in 554kg, 2006 edition Gold medallist Sarita (60kg) had to work harder to emerge 4-0 winner on points against Diana Sandra Brugger of Switzerland in their opening bouts at the K D Jadhav Stadium here.
Both Sarita and Manisha advanced to the prequarterfinals where they will face Kellie Herrington of Ireland and Dina Zholaman of Kazakhstan respectively on Sunday.
Harrington had won a Silver in 64kg in the 2016 World Championships but she has gone one weight category down in this tournament. She beat Troy Garton of New Zealand on Friday.
Zholaman is the defending world champion but Manisha has beaten her in the Silesian Women's Boxing championship in Poland earlier this year.
The 20-year-old Manisha from Haryana, who was making her debut in the World Championships, was in complete control during the first round bout against the American who is almost twice her age.
The 36-year-old Cruz from New York was the last edition's Bronze medallist besides winning the same colour of medal in 2012 also.
Manisha, who had won a Gold in the India Open and a Silver in the Poland event this year, was the clear winner as she dominated all the three rounds. The five judges gave her a unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-26, 30-26, 29-28).
The 36-year-old Sarita faced a tough fight from her experienced Swiss opponent, who also has been in the international circuit for more than a decade, before winning 4-0 (28-28, 29-28, 30-27, 29-28, 29-28).
The Manipuri boxer, who has been competing in the World Championships since the first edition in 2001, was clearly the better boxer as all the five judges gave points in her favour.
In other bouts of the day, 2016 World Championship and Rio Olympics Bronze medallist Mira Potkonen of Finland beat Commonwealth Games Gold winner Anja Stridsman of Australia in 60kg.
Another Rio Bronze winner in 60kg, Anastasia Beliakova moved to the pre-quarters with a unanimous verdict win over Elisa Williams.