Glasgow: Preeti Pawar discusses weight-cut challenges after reaching Commonwealth Games final
Pawar’s Path to the Final
Indian boxer Preeti Pawar has advanced to the women’s 54kg final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. She secured her spot by defeating Catherine Mwape of Zambia with a 5-0 decision in the semifinal. This victory marks Pawar as the first Indian boxer to reach a final in Glasgow.
Pawar, who previously earned a bronze medal at the Asian Games, demonstrated control throughout her bout against Mwape. She effectively utilized her left straight and landed counter-attacks after drawing her opponent forward. Mwape struggled to connect with clean punches and was repeatedly caught by Pawar’s combinations. The Zambian boxer received three eight counts during the initial two rounds, with all five judges awarding Pawar a 10-8 score in the second round, reflecting her dominance.
In the final round, Mwape focused on avoiding Pawar’s attacks as the Indian boxer completed her comfortable 5-0 win. Pawar is now set to compete for the gold medal against Scarlett Delgado of Canada, who advanced by defeating England’s Lauren Mackie 4-1 in her semifinal match.
Challenges of Weight Management
Following her semifinal win, Preeti Pawar spoke about the difficulties associated with cutting weight, a common practice for athletes before significant bouts. She noted that the process makes it challenging to eat properly.
Despite the arduous nature of weight cutting, Pawar stated that it also serves as a source of motivation. She explained that the struggle reminds her of how close she is to achieving her goals, stating, “It is a little tough because we are not able to eat food properly. But it motivates us that we are one step away from the final.”
Pawar also expressed satisfaction with her performance, highlighting her ability to execute her training plans. She emphasized her commitment to never underestimating opponents and always preparing thoroughly with her coaches. She aims to deliver her best performance in the upcoming gold medal bout.
Other Indian Boxing Successes
India’s boxing contingent has seen further success at the Commonwealth Games. Jadumani secured a place in the men’s 55kg boxing final by defeating Haoseb via unanimous decision in their semifinal. Jadumani maintained a composed approach, relying on counter-punching while his opponent pressed forward. All judges scored the bout in Jadumani’s favour, and he will face Dixon in the final.
Jaismine also advanced to the boxing final with a Referee Stops Contest (RSC) victory over Maselela in her semifinal. Jaismine took control in the second round, landing powerful punches that led to multiple standing counts for her opponent, ultimately resulting in the contest being stopped. These victories mean Jadumani, Jaismine, Ankush, and Arundhati will all be competing in boxing finals, marking a successful period for India’s boxing team.
In other events, Asmita Dey clinched a gold medal for India in the women’s 48kg judo category. Dey delivered a commanding performance, maintaining composure and executing precise attacks to secure a 2-1 Yuko victory against her Canadian opponent in a closely contested final. This win secured India’s latest gold medal at the Games, with Dey completing her campaign undefeated.
Meanwhile, javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra is set to begin his campaign to reclaim the Commonwealth Games title. Chopra, who won gold in 2018 but missed the 2022 edition due to injury, will compete in the men’s javelin throw event at the Scotstoun Stadium. He recently competed at the Doha Diamond League, where he registered a throw of 85.69 metres in his third attempt.
Additionally, Tejaswin Shankar achieved another personal best in the men’s decathlon, throwing 39.66m in the discus to earn 658 points, continuing his push for a medal.
Preeti Pawar’s upcoming gold medal bout against Scarlett Delgado will take place after her 5-0 semifinal victory.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
