Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
India’s women boxers stamped their authority at the Asian Boxing Championships on Thursday, with Preeti Pawar and Minakshi Hooda leading a four-gold haul that powered the team to the top of the standings.
Reigning world champion Minakshi (48kg) and Asian Games bronze medallist Preeti (54kg) were joined on the podium by Priya Ghanghas (60kg) and Arundhati Choudhary (70kg), capping a dominant run for the Indian contingent.
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Minakshi opened the day with a clinical 5-0 win over Mongolia’s Nomundari Enkh-Amgalan, setting the tone for what followed. Preeti then extended her impressive run, outpunching Chinese Taipei’s Huang Hsiao-wen, a three-time world champion and Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist, for a unanimous 5-0 verdict.
Priya added to the tally with a measured 3-0 victory against North Korea’s Won Un-gyong, while Arundhati sealed India’s fourth gold with a 4-1 win over Kazakhstan’s Bakyt Seidish.
India’s only setback in the finals came in the 57kg bout, where reigning world champion Jaismine Lamboria lost 0-5 to Thailand’s Punrawee Ruenros, a two-time World Championships silver medallist.
Alfiya Pathan (80+kg) added a silver medal after going down 0-5 to Kazakhstan’s Dina Islambekova in her only bout of the competition. With their run to the finals, the Indian boxers also secured qualification for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games later this year, in line with the Boxing Federation of India selection policy.
India’s women’s team finished with 10 medals, including four gold, two silver and four bronze, to emerge as the most successful side. However, some weight categories had limited participation, with fields of just three boxers. As a result, boxers such as Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) and Pooja Rani (80kg) secured bronze medals after semifinal losses.
Earlier in the week, two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen (54kg) and Ankushita Boro (65kg) also settled for bronze following semifinal exits.
In the men’s competition, Vishwanath Suresh (48kg) and Sachin Siwach (60kg) will compete in their respective finals on Friday.
India have now confirmed 16 medals at the ongoing edition, the highest tally among all participating nations.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
