In the 51 kilogram class at the Halla Gymnasium, Russia's Sayana Sagatayeva floored her opponent, German women's youth world champion Ornella Wahner, to show her gold medal winning potential, while her compatriot Zinaida Dobrynina - winner the European Women's Continental Championships in Bucharest in June - successfully took on Thailand's Asian Indoor Games 57kg winner Peamwilai Laopeam.

A third Russian triumph of the day came when London 2012 Olympic silver medallist and two-time women's world gold medallist Sofya Ochigava overwhelm Chinese Taipei's Chen Chia Ling and advanced to the last 16 in the 60kg competition.

Meanwhile, there was a victory for American Olympic bronze medallist Marlen Esparza in the 51kg class.

The World Championships bronze medallist overcame Mongolia's Incheon 2014 Asian Games bronze medal winner Nandintsetseg Myagmardulam and, in the absence of British Olympic champion Nicola Adams and India's five-time world champion Mary Kom, is a strong contender for the gold.

There was disappointment, however, for Ireland's Joanne Lambe, who suffered a defeat at the hands of Chinese newcomer Lu Qiong in the 57kg, and Hungary's Katalin Ancsin who went down to Elif Nur Coskun of Turkey in the 51kg competition.

Marlen Esparza overcame Nandintsetseg Myagmardulam at the Women's World Boxing Championships ©Getty Images


"I was too slow in the whole bout against Turkey's Elif Nur Coskun and my reactions were too late in the tactical situations," Ancsin lamented.

"I tried to speed up my footwork, but I was not in enough shape to do my plans in the ring."

Germany's Nina Meinke advanced to the last 16 in the 57kg class after handing a shock defeat to Taynna Santos Cardoso of Brazil, Switzerland's Sandra Brugger went through in the 60kg competition after overcoming Mariska Janssen of The Netherlands and Australian Kristy Harris dominated her opening 51kg fight against Sri Lanka's Clifford Cup winner Dulani Anuradha Jayasinghe Arachchi to progress.

"I felt good, but I know I will feel better in my next bout in the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships in Jeju," Harris said.

"That was my first fight since the [Glasgow 2014] Commonwealth Games and I know I was slow to get going, but soon worked out my opponent's favourite punches and adapted from there in the rest of the contest.

"It was good to get the first fight out of the way, it always is."

Elsewhere, India's Pinky Jangra Rani opened with a triumph in the 51kg over Si Haijuan to cause China's first loss in the eighth Women's World Boxing Championships, while Central American champion Atheyna Bylon defeated Indian Neetu Chahal in her opening 69kg bout to secure Panama's first ever victory in the history of the event.

The action in Jeju continues tomorrow with a further 48 preliminary bouts, while winners of the 48kg, 54 kg and 60 kg classes will secure their places in the last 16.

Ireland's London 2012 Olympic champion and four-in-a-row women's world champion Katie Taylor will also take to the ring.

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