Glasgow Commonwealth Games: Indian boxers secure 10 final berths
Indian boxers have delivered a strong performance at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with 10 pugilists advancing to the finals. This achievement sets the stage for potential gold medals across various weight categories. The semi-final bouts on Friday saw several dominant displays from the Indian contingent.
Among the boxers who secured their spots in the gold medal rounds are Sakshi Chaudhary, Preeti Pawar, Jaismine Lamboria, Priya Ghanghas, Arundhati Choudhary, Lovlina Borgohain, Jadumani Singh Mandengbam, Sachin Siwach, Ankush Panghal, and Narender Berwal.
Dominant performances in the semi-finals
Arundhati Choudhary notably defeated defending champion Rosie Eccles of Wales with a 4-0 victory in a women’s 70kg semi-final. The bout was described as tense and ill-tempered, with Arundhati maintaining her performance through the first two rounds, which led to Rosie receiving a standing count.
World champion Jaismine Lamboria showcased her dominance in the women’s 57kg category. She secured her final spot via a Referee Stops Contest (RSC) decision against Rapelang Maselela of Lesotho. Jaismine’s victory came after her opponent received a third standing count in the second round.
Lovlina Borgohain, an Olympic medallist, advanced to the finals in the 75kg category with a unanimous 5-0 victory over Tarona Khanum Badi Pasoni Taafaki of Tuvalu. Lovlina controlled the pace of the bout from the start, using her reach, footwork, and combinations effectively.
Preeti Pawar, a 22-year-old from Bhiwani and an Asian Games bronze medallist, secured a 5-0 win against Catherine Mwape of Zambia in her semi-final. This win sets up her final match against Scarlett Delgado of Canada, who defeated Lauren Mackie of England 4-1 in her semi-final bout. Preeti expressed her satisfaction with her performance, stating her commitment to giving her best for the gold medal match.
Preeti’s strategy involved out-pacing Mwape and using counter-attacks, with her left straight proving particularly effective. Mwape struggled to connect, facing three counts in the first two rounds, and all five judges scored the second round 10-8 in Preeti’s favour, highlighting her control over the bout.
Ankush Panghal, competing in the men’s 80kg category, also delivered a commanding 5-0 victory against Joshua Ofori of Canada. Ankush, a southpaw, has shown a rapid rise in his boxing career since starting nine years ago. He is one of the younger faces in the Indian team, having made his senior debut last year.
Ankush’s coach, Pradeep Sawant, noted his dedication and quick learning ability, mentioning his early success as a national champion at 14 years old. Ankush’s journey began with minimal facilities at a government school in Gangwa village, Hisar, and he has since benefited from the Khelo India scheme and support from Olympic Gold Quest and the Army Sports Institute.
His father, Manoj Kumar, a farmer from Bherian village, Hisar district, initially introduced Ankush to kabaddi, where he also showed promise, winning a gold medal at school level. However, Manoj decided to move him to boxing, viewing it as an individual sport where his son could achieve more. Ankush will face Dimeji Shittu of England in the gold-medal match.
Other notable performances include Jadumani Singh Mandengbam, who reached the men’s 55kg final with a unanimous 5-0 decision against P. P. M. Haoseb of Namibia. Sakshi Chaudhary also secured a final spot in the women’s 51kg semi-finals, beating Amber Jane Wall of Canada 5-0. Priya Ghanghas defeated Lucy Kings-Wheatley of England 5-0 to enter the women’s 60kg final, becoming the seventh Indian boxer to reach a gold-medal bout. Narender Berwal concluded the successful day for India with a 5-0 decision over Nigel Paul of Trinidad and Tobago in the men’s 90+kg category.
The boxing finals are scheduled for Saturday.
Source: m.rediff.com
