Nitu and Barun Singh Shagolshem were the stars of the Indian U21 National Games in Pune

The Indian U21 National Games for the women and men boxers was held in the city of Pune where 18 new winners have been celebrated their titles. Among India’s top talents two-time AIBA Women’s Youth World Champion Nitu Ghanghas won the light flyweight (48kg) but Anamika, Manisha, Lalita, Barun Singh Shagolshem and Bhavesh Kattimani also defeated their strong rivals in Pune.
The women boxers could attend in the Indian U21 National Games in eight weight classes from the light flyweight (48kg) up to the middleweight (75kg). India’s best boxing region Haryana topped the female medal standings ahead of Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and the city of Delhi.
The men boxers attended in ten categories from the light flyweight (49kg) up to the super heavyweight (+91kg). Haryana claimed five gold medals in the men’s part of the Indian U21 National Games but runner-up Maharashtra is also impressed with their four titles in Pune. Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Karnataka and Rajasthan also had at least one finalist.
India’s super talented Nitu Ghanghas is two-time AIBA Women’s Youth World Champion, she claimed the titles in Guwahati and in Budapest. Nitu was too smart for Anjali Sharma in the final of the light flyweight (48kg) which was her next title. The 18-year-old boxer won their National Selection Trials as well and will be attending in the upcoming ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships.
Anamika impressed as a youth boxer in 2018 and claimed silver medals in the top international events but in Pune was won the flyweight (51kg) following her success over Delhi’s Tanvi Kaushal. Divya Pawar also joined to the elite age group this January and defeated all of her top rivals as Rajbala and Shivani during her road to the gold medal at the women’s bantamweight (54kg).
AIBA Women’s Youth World Champion Shashi Chopra defeated two-time AIBA Women’s Youth World Champion Sakshi Choudhary in the quarter-finals in the bout of the competition but she was unable to box against Vinakshi in the final of the featherweight (57kg). At the lightweight (60kg) Siwi surprised Haryana’s Jony in the final before ASBC Asian Women’s Youth Champions, Manisha (64kg) and Lalita (69kg) won their titles.
Barun Singh Shagolshem has done fantastic job in the male youth competitions in 2018 and during his first U21 event he controlled all of his light flyweight (49kg) contests in Pune claiming his next title. Budapest 2018 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Bhavesh Kattimani of Maharasthra is a strong future hope who has done enough in the final of the flyweight (52kg) to beat Anwar.
Haryana’s Akash Kumar eliminated WSB star Mohamed Etash Khan of Maharasthra in the semi-final of the bantamweight (56kg) causing one of the main surprises of the Indian U21 National Games. Following his amazing success the 18-year-old talent controlled his final contest against Pawan Gurung in Pune.
Another unexpected success was delivered by Harivansh Tawari at the lightweight (60kg) where he was slightly better than Budapest 2018 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Ankit in the final. Following his gold medal Akash (64kg) and Naveen Boora also impressed in the Indian U21 National Games. Nitin Kumar arrived as the main favourite of the middleweight (75kg) but he lost his final to Nikhil Dubey of Maharasthra.

List of the winners in the Indian U21 National Games
Women’s 48kg: Nitu Ghanghas
Women’s 51kg: Anamika
Women’s 54kg: Divya Pawar
Women’s 57kg: Vinakshi
Women’s 60kg: Siwi
Women’s 64kg: Manisha
Women’s 69kg: Lalita
Women’s 75kg: Sapna
Men’s 49kg: Barun Singh Shagolshem
Men’s 52kg: Bhavesh Kattimani
Men’s 56kg: Akash Kumar
Men’s 60kg: Harivansh Tawari
Men’s 64kg: Akash
Men’s 69kg: Naveen Boora
Men’s 75kg: Nikhil Dubey
Men’s 81kg: Mohit
Men’s 91kg: Himmat Singh
Men’s +91kg: Harshpreet Sahrawa

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