Panghal bettered his silver from the final version whereas Nitu upstaged 2019 world championship bronze medalist
Panghal bettered his silver from the final version whereas Nitu upstaged 2019 world championship bronze medalist
The indomitable Nikhat Zareen added a Commonwealth Games gentle flyweight (50kg) title to her bulging trophy cupboard whereas Amit Panghal (51kg) started his redemption journey with a much-needed gold successful present, in Birmingham on August 7, 2022.
Nikhat, who’s on a successful spree for the reason that Nationals final 12 months, asserted her dominance over Northern Ireland’s Carly Mc Naul as she punched her solution to a complete 5-0 win in her maiden CWG look.
Panghal, however, avenged his 2018 Commonwealth Games last loss in opposition to Kiaran MacDonald by clinching the title with a complete 5-0 win over the favorite.
Indian boxers made it three out of three golds on the day as younger Nitu Ghanghas (48kg) too reigned supreme on her CWG debut.
But Sagar Ahlawat must be content material with a silver medal as he misplaced by an unanimous 0-5 verdict in opposition to England’s Delicious Orie within the males’s over 92kg (tremendous heavy weight) class, in what was the ultimate bout of the Games.
Sagar began positively within the first spherical however Orie utterly dominated the subsequent two because the Indian began to tire out.
The Englishman took full benefit of that and landed huge punches, hooks and jabs on Sagar, who began to bleed within the final spherical after getting a minimize over his left eye.
The India pugilists will return with seven medals — three gold, one silver and three bronze — from Birmingham, two lower than the earlier version.
Nikhat began off the 12 months by clinching a gold on the prestigious Strandja Memorial event earlier than happening to develop into a world champion.
The Telangana boxer, who dropped from 52kg to 50kg for the CWG, glided across the ring, touchdown hooks and tight jabs at will. Her defence was equally spectacular.
Such was her dominance that when the 9 minutes ended there was little doubt which method the choice would go.
Having misplaced to a Briton 4 years in the past on the similar stage in Gold Coast, the 26-year-old Panghal was at his aggressive finest in opposition to MacDonald as he clinched the yellow metallic with a 5-0 verdict.
The dominating Panghal, who was lightning fast along with his jabs, additionally left MacDonald with a minimize above his proper eye that wanted a number of stitches and a stoppage in play because the Indian was on track.
Using his peak benefit, MacDonald tried to bounce again within the third spherical however the Asian Games champion had it straightforward.
The turning level for Panghal, nevertheless, was the semifinal win over Zambia’s Tokyo Olympian Patrick Chinyemba because the Indian bounced again to win the bout.
“It was the toughest round and was the turning point. I lost the first round and gave it all to produce the win and there was no looking back,” Panghal informed PTI.
Asked about his technique in opposition to his British opponent, he mentioned: “He was taller than me and I had to be more aggressive and get inside his arms. That worked. My coaches did a great job because we worked out how to win and I did it in the ring.” “I did enough to win the first two rounds and I held it in the last. I thought he probably won the last round but I was too far ahead by then. He was a great opponent.” Panghal mentioned.
“This has avenged my loss in Australia in the final. I knew it would be very tough because I was fighting an Englishman in England but the judges were very fair and very accurate,” Panghal mentioned.
With the gold, Panghal additionally put his disappointing Tokyo Olympics outing the place he made a spherical of 16 exit, behind.
Nitu, however, upstaged 2019 world championships bronze medallist Demie-Jade Resztan of England by a 5-0 unanimous verdict.
The first Indian boxer to take the ring, Nitu, competing in her first CWG, appeared utterly in management all through the 9 minutes, giving the house boxer no likelihood.
The environment was intimidating for the 21-year-old going through the house favorite however she pinned her together with her unwavering gaze into her eyes.
In a battle of two southpaws, the Indian who was taller than her opponent confirmed fluid and intelligent actions whereas stepping again to the rival’s assaults.
The long-range photographs being her benefit, Nitu used them to perfection to land her jabs completely on her opponent’s face as she additionally gained by way of 5-0 unanimous verdict to say the ladies’s minimal weight (45kg) gold.
“I am so happy, I can hardly breathe,” Nitu informed reporters.
Daughter of an worker in Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Nitu, who hails from India’s ‘mini Cuba’ in boxing Bhiwani, additional mentioned: “My parents have been my inspiration and my gold medal is for them.” The legendary MC Mary Kom had gained the coveted yellow metallic in the identical class on the 2018 Games.
Incidentally, it was within the choice trial in opposition to Nitu that Mary Kom had injured her knee and needed to withdraw.
Source: www.thehindu.com