India bags 3 golds, finishes second anew in Commonwealth Games
Nikhat Zareen, Amit Panghal and Nitu Ghanghas snared a gold medal apiece as India came in second in the boxing competition of the Commonwealth Games 2022 held recently in Birmingham, England.
Defending world champion Zareen earned her third title this year after controlling the tempo over Northern Ireland’s veteran Carly McNaul from start to finish for an easy 5-0 victory in the women’s light flyweight (50kg) division.
Reigning Asian Games titlist and former world silver finisher Panghal surpassed his silver performance in the last Commonwealth Games as he unleashed his cat-quick speed against the taller Kiaran MacDonald of England to seize a 5-0 win in the men’s flyweight (51kg) final.
“I was confident that I could win the gold medal in the Commonwealth Games,” said the ex-Asian Elite champion. “This was a successful preparation for me before the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships and the 2023 Asian Games.”
Former two-time youth world champ Ghanghas completed her championship run in her Commonwealth Games debut after trouncing European silver medalist Demie-Jade Resztan of England, 5-0, in the women’s minimumweight (48kg) class.
“It was my first Commonwealth Games and I wanted a gold medal for my country therefore I am very happy to win the title in Birmingham. I dedicate my gold medal to the whole country,” beamed the 21-year-old Ghanghas.
Meanwhile, national team newcomer Sagar Ahlawat settled for silver as he yielded to England’s Delicious Orie, 0-5, in the men’s super heavyweight (+92kg) category.
Same as the 2018 edition in the Australian city of Gold Coast, India finished second in the medal standings with a 3-1-3 gold-silver-bronze haul, behind Northern Ireland’s 5-1-1 tally and ahead of Scotland’s 3-0-2 slate. Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Malaysia were the other Asian countries that joined the boxing tournament of this year’s quadrennial event that drew a total of 231 elite fighters from 55 nations.
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