Four Indian women boxers win gold at Youth World Championships
It was a gold rush for India at boxing's Youth World Championships in Kielce, Poland on Thursday with four women pugilists notching up top finishes after stunningly dominant summit performances. Gitika (48kg), Babyrojisana Chanu (51kg), Poonam (57kg), and Vinka (60kg) clinched gold medals in the first half of the final clashes of the international tournament of the game.
Who did they defeat to end up at the top?
While Gitika prevailed 5-0 over Poland's Natalia Kuczewska, Chanu defeated Valeriia Linkova of Russia by a similar margin after a close opening round. Later, Poonam and Vinka added to the gold rush. While Poonam clinched a 5-0 triumph over France's Sthelyne Grosy, Vinka out-classed Kazakhstan's Zhuldyz Shayakhmetova forcing the referee to stop the contest midway through the final round.
Gitika left her opponent in utter confusion
Gitika opened the proceedings for India and she grunted her way to domination, outpunching her hapless opponent. Also, striking was Gitika's impeccable footwork and balance. Kuczewska was unable to cope with the sheer pace and aggression of her rival. Gitika gave Kuczzewska a bloodied nose in the third round, refusing to take her foot off the pedal even for a second.
Chanu was given a tough fight by the Russian
Chanu and her opponent spent the opening round taking a measure of each other but the Indian landed enough straights to get a 3-2 verdict in her favor in the first three minutes. Linkova was guilty of not defending well as Chanu clinched the second round unanimously. In the final three minutes, Chanu stepped up the pressure with an attack-first approach, sealing the bout.
This might end up as India's best performance ever
Later, Poonam and Vinka produced similarly dominating performances against their rivals to rightfully claim a top place finish on the podium. With this, India equaled its best-ever gold medal haul at the marquee age group event with three women's finals still left. An unprecedented eight Indians have made the finals, seven of them women. The lone male finalist Sachin (56kg) will fight on Friday.
Despite challenges, our players have made us proud: BFI President
"This has been an amazing effort from our youth boxers especially when the players had to be confined at home for the most part of the last year and only make do with online training sessions," said Boxing Federation of India President Ajay Singh. "Our coaches and support staff did a stellar job despite the limitations and challenges," he added.
