Glasgow: Preeti Pawar, Priya Ghanghas secure boxing medals at Commonwealth Games
Indian boxers advance to semifinals
Indian boxers Preeti Pawar and Priya Ghanghas have secured at least two medals for India at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. Both athletes advanced to the semifinals in their respective weight categories, guaranteeing themselves at least a bronze medal according to Commonwealth Games boxing rules where a semifinal berth ensures a medal.
Preeti Pawar, competing in the women’s 54kg division, delivered a dominant performance in her quarterfinal bout. She secured a unanimous decision victory over Nicole Clyde of Northern Ireland, winning the contest 5-0 on points. Preeti’s control was evident throughout the match, as she outclassed her opponent in every round at SEC Hall 5.
The judges’ scorecards reflected Preeti’s superiority, with scores of 30-25, 30-25, 30-26, 30-26, and 30-27 in her favour. Clyde also experienced three knockdowns during the bout, further highlighting Preeti’s command of the contest. This victory follows another strong showing in the Round of 16, where Preeti advanced after the referee stopped the contest in the second round against Mtenje of Malawi.
Priya Ghanghas’s comeback victory
Later, Priya Ghanghas entered the women’s 60kg semifinals after a hard-fought match against Niamh Mitchell of Scotland. Priya secured a 4-1 split-decision victory over the local favourite in the quarterfinals. This win also assures India of another medal in boxing.
Priya demonstrated notable composure after losing the initial round on four of the five judges’ scorecards. She then mounted a strong comeback, dominating the second and third rounds with sharp combinations, effective counter-attacks, and superior ring control. The judges scored the contest 28-27, 28-27, 27-28, 28-27, and 29-26 in favour of the Indian boxer.
Priya will now compete in the semifinals on July 31, where she is scheduled to face the winner of the remaining quarterfinal between England and Ukraine. Her aim will be to continue her impressive run and secure a spot in the gold medal bout.
Preeti Pawar, an Asian Games bronze medallist, will next face Catherine Mwape of Zambia in her semifinal match. This will mark Preeti’s first podium finish at the Commonwealth Games. Priya, who won a gold medal at the Asian Championships in April in Ulaanbaatar, also received a first-round bye in the tournament.
Both boxers’ performances have added to India’s medal tally in Glasgow, with their semifinal berths guaranteeing at least a bronze medal each. Preeti’s dominant 5-0 win and Priya’s resilient 4-1 split decision victory underscore their strong presence in the competition.
Preeti dictated the opening round against Clyde with sharp movement and crisp combinations, repeatedly piercing her opponent’s guard with clusters of punches. The judges awarded the opening round 10-9 in her favour on four scorecards and 10-8 on the fifth. She maintained this intensity in the second round, sweeping all five judges’ scorecards with scores of 10-9 from three judges and 10-8 from the remaining two. Preeti stayed composed in the final round, displaying an impressive range of punches and excellent shot selection to complete her comprehensive victory.
Priya, after dropping the opening round to Mitchell, responded with greater aggression and cleaner punching to claim the second round by an identical 4-1 margin. She then maintained her composure in the deciding round, producing more effective combinations to secure her 4-1 split-decision victory.
The semifinals for these boxing events are scheduled for July 31.
Source: telanganatoday.com
