CWG 2022: Boxers Amit Panghal, Nitu Ghanghas strike gold

Panghal bettered his silver from the last edition as he out-punched European Championship silver medallist England’s Kiaran MacDonald by a 5-0 verdict in the men’s flyweight.

Nitu, on the other hand, upstaged 2019 world championships bronze medallist Demie-Jade Resztan of England by a 5-0 unanimous verdict.

Despite the height disadvantage, Asian Games gold medallist Panghal was the far better pugilist among the two.

“It was the toughest round and was the turning point. I lost the first round and gave it all to produce the win and there was no looking back,” Panghal told PTI.

Asked about his strategy against his British opponent, he said: “He was taller than me and I had to be more aggressive and get inside his arms. That worked. My coaches did a great job because we worked out how to win and I did it in the ring.”

“I did enough to win the first two rounds and I held it in the last. I thought he probably won the last round but I was too far ahead by then. He was a great opponent.” Panghal said.

“This has avenged my loss in Australia in the final. I knew it would be very testing because I was fighting an Englishman in England but the judges were very fair and very accurate,” Panghal said.

The first Indian boxer to take the ring, the 21-year-old Nitu, competing in her first CWG, looked completely in control throughout the nine minutes, giving the home boxer no chance.

The Southpaw continued to dazzle in the ring as she threw sharp, accurate combination of punches and controlled the pace of the contest.

Nitu, on the other hand, upstaged 2019 world championships bronze medallist Demie-Jade Resztan of England by a 5-0 unanimous verdict.

The first Indian boxer to take the ring, Nitu, competing in her first CWG, looked completely in control throughout the nine minutes, giving the home boxer no chance.

The atmosphere was intimidating for the 21-year-old facing the home favourite but she pinned her at first with her unwavering gaze to her eyes.

In a battle of two southpaws, the Indian who was taller than her opponent showed fluid and clever movements while stepping back to the rival’s attacks.

The long-range shots being her advantage, Nitu used them to perfection to land her jabs perfectly on her opponent’s face as she also won via 5-0 unanimous verdict to claim the women’s minimum weight (45kg) gold.

“I am so happy, I can hardly breathe,” Nitu told reporters.

Daughter of an employee in Haryana Vidhan Sabha said, Nitu, who hails from India’s ‘mini Cuba’ in boxing Bhiwani, further said: “My parents have been my inspiration and my gold medal is for them.”