Indian boxers made history at the Asian Under-22 and Youth Boxing Championship, clinching an impressive tally of 43 medals in the prestigious tournament.
Among the standout performers, Akash Gorkha, Vishwanath Suresh, Nikhil, and Preet Malik advanced to the final rounds, showcasing the depth of talent in Indian boxing. Aakash Gorkha, reigning senior national champion in the 60 kg category, asserted his dominance with a 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan’s Ilyasov Sayat in the semi-finals.
Current youth world champion Vishwanath (48 kg) displayed his prowess with a convincing 5-1 win against Baricuetro Brian of the Philippines. Meanwhile, Nikhil (57kg) and Preet (67kg) secured their spots in the finals with hard-fought victories, defeating opponents from Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan, respectively.
Despite valiant efforts, M Jadumani Singh (51 kg), Ajay Kumar (63.5 kg), Ankush (71 kg), Dhruv Singh (80 kg), Juganu (86 kg), and Yuvraj (92 kg) settled for bronze medals in their respective categories.
In the women’s under-22 semi-finals, nine Indian boxers, including Olympic qualifier Preeti (54 kg), showcased their skills, setting the stage for an exciting finale scheduled for Tuesday.
The youth women’s category witnessed stellar performances from junior world champion Nisha (52 kg) and Asian youth champion Nikita Chand (60 kg), who advanced to the finals. However, Lakshya Rathi (92 kg), Annu (48 kg), Yatri Patel (57 kg), Parthvi Grewal (66 kg), Akansha Falaswal (70 kg), and Nirzar Bana (81 plus kg) bowed out with bronze medals.
With 14 Indian boxers vying for glory in the youth finals and seven gold medals up for grabs in both men’s and women’s categories, anticipation runs high for the thrilling climax scheduled for Monday. The tournament, boasting participation from over 390 boxers representing 24 countries, showcased intense competition, reaffirming India’s prowess in the global boxing arena.
