Games
Guwahati: It was gold rush for India at the AIBA World Women’s Youth Boxing Championships with the pugilists grabbing five top positions to help the country finish overall champions for the first time, here Sunday.
Nitu (48kg), Jyoti Gulia (51kg), Sakshi choudhury (54kg), Shashi Chopra (57kg) and Ankushita Boro (64kg) won gold medals for an Indian sweep in the finals. Among the five, Jyoti also qualified for next year’s Youth Olympic Games in Argentina courtesy her top finish and because she was born after 1999.
Adding to the tally were two bronze medals secured by Neha Yadav (+81kg) and Anupama (81kg), making it India’s best-ever performance at the marquee age group event. Local girl Ankushita was adjudged the boxer of the tournament.
“You are seeing the probable Olympic medallists for India at the Tokyo Olympics here. It has been a fantastic performance,” Boxing Federation of India (BFI) president Ajay Singh told reporters. He announced a cash prize of Rs 2,00,000 each for all the gold medallists.
Nitu was first up against Kazakhstan’s Zhazira Urakbayeva and won by an unanimous verdict. Jyoti’s bout against Russia’s Ekaterina Molchanova was fought on an even keel. However, Jyoti’s ability to connect more than her opponent, helped her gain yet another verdict in her favour.
Sakshi won against England’s Ivy-Jane Smith by a split 3-2 decision while Sashi defeated Vietnam’s Ngoc Do Hong by an identical margin. In the last bout of the day, local girl, Ankushita triumphed over Russia’s Ekaterina Dynnk 3-1.
Press trust of India
