Indian boxers guarantee at least 10 Commonwealth Games medals in Glasgow
India’s Boxing Success at Commonwealth Games
India‘s boxing contingent has secured at least 10 medals at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, following a series of strong performances. On Wednesday, six Indian pugilists advanced to the semi-finals, completing a clean sweep for the day. This brings the total number of Indian boxers in the semi-finals to 10, ensuring a minimum of bronze medals for each.
Among those who secured their semi-final spots on Wednesday were Jaismine Lamboria, Ankush Yadav, Sakshi Chaudhary, Arundhati Choudhary, Sachin Siwach, and Narender Berwal. These boxers joined Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), Priya Ghanghas (60kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), and Jadumani Singh (55kg), who had previously qualified for the semi-finals.
Key Victories and Performances
Sakshi Chaudhary, competing in the women’s 51kg category after moving down from 54kg, delivered a dominant performance against Northern Ireland‘s Caitlin Fryers. Sakshi won her quarter-final bout with a unanimous 5-0 decision. She utilised her height, reach, and superior footwork to control the distance and keep Fryers at bay, landing accurate jabs and straight punches.
Sakshi explained her strategy after the bout, stating, “Her strategy was to fight from close range and she kept clinching. Mine was to box from long range which is my forte.” Despite Fryers’ aggressive approach and frequent clinches, Sakshi maintained her composure and dictated the pace of the contest.
Arundhati Choudhary also advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s 70kg category, securing a 3-1 victory over New Zealand‘s Morgan Henderson. Her win was hard-fought, unlike Sakshi’s more one-sided contest, but it guaranteed her at least a bronze medal.
In the men’s division, former world youth champion Sachin Siwach continued his strong form, securing a unanimous 5-0 decision against Botswana‘s Treasure Moremi in the 60kg category. Siwach, who is ranked world No. 5, showcased composure and clean boxing throughout the bout.
Ankush Yadav, a World Boxing Cup Finals silver medallist, also delivered a commanding performance in the men’s 80kg quarter-final. He defeated Seychelles‘ Jade Micock with a unanimous 5-0 decision, controlling the contest with sharp combinations and disciplined defence. Yadav’s superior speed and movement allowed him to repeatedly find openings, leading to a 30-26 verdict on one judge’s card and 30-27 on the remaining four.
Narender Berwal capped off the day’s victories by edging Samoa‘s Michael Seko in a hard-fought men’s 90+kg quarter-final. Berwal secured a 3-2 split decision despite facing referee interventions and two point deductions. He forced two standing counts on Seko, including one in the final round, to secure his place in the semi-finals.
Jaismine Lamboria, in her bout, defeated England‘s Elise Glynn with a 4-1 split decision. The contest was tight from the beginning, but Jaismine demonstrated her in-ring acumen by patiently waiting for opportunities to land significant strikes, allowing her to take the first round. She maintained her aggressive approach in the final round, securing the win and assuring herself of a second Commonwealth Games medal.
The total of 10 Indian boxers reaching the semi-finals means that India has already locked in at least 10 boxing medals in Glasgow, surpassing the country’s boxing medal tally of seven from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which included three gold, one silver, and three bronze medals.
Source: m.rediff.com
