The 38-year-old Olympic-bound Mary Kom had prevailed 4-1 over Mongolia's Lutsaikhan Altantsetseg in the semifinals on Thursday.

Instead of resting on the recent success, Indian boxers and coaches are looking to improve further.

Panghal lost 0-5 but the scoreline was hardly a reflection of the fight he put on against the more fancied Zoirov.

Awaiting the 23-year-old in the final is reigning Olympic champion Shakhobidin Zoirov of Uzbekistan.