Indian women boxers notched up stunning performances as they scripted history at the 2021 AIBA Youth Men’s and Women’s World Boxing Championships in Kielce, Poland by winning seven gold medals on Thursday.
All the women finalists –Gitika (48kg) Naorem Babyrojisana Chanu (51kg), Poonam (57kg), Vinka (60kg), Arundhati Choudhary (69kg), T Sanamacha Chanu (75kg) and Alfiya Pathan (+81kg)— recorded wins and finished their campaign on the top of the podium. Previously Indian women pugilists had clinched five gold medals at the 2017 Youth World Championships that took place in Guwahati. India women’s team also sealed their position at the top with the No.1 ranking in the ongoing Championship followed by Russia who won seven gold medals.
Asian Youth Champion Sanamacha, who trains at boxing legend MC Mary Kom’s academy in Imphal, contributed to the historic sixth gold for India when she defeated Kazakhstan’s Dana Diday 5-0 in the 75kg final. Later, Alfiya the Young boxing sensation hailing from Maharashtra secured the seventh gold for India as she upset her opponent, Moldova’s Daria Kozorez, the European Youth Champion 5-0 in the final.
“This has been an amazing effort from our youth boxers especially when the players had to be confined at home for most part of the last year and only make do with online training sessions. Our coaches and support staff did a stellar job despite the limitations and challenges. I congratulate all the winners on this unprecedented medal haul. This achievement is a testament of the talent we have in the upcoming generation of Indian boxing,” Boxing Federation of India President, Ajay Singh said while talking about the unprecedented medal haul by India at the AIBA Youth World Championships.
Earlier, Gitika spearheaded India's dominance and delivered a perfect start for the day. The Haryana pugilist , who walked into the final defeating two-time European Champion Italy’s Erika Prisciandaro, thrashed local girl Natalia Kuczewska 5-0 in the women’s 48kg final and earned the first gold medal for the country in the Championship.
The Asian Youth Champion Babyrojisana (51kg) and Poonam (57kg) carried on to Indian winning momentum as both of them registered identical 5-0 wins to add two more golds in the Indian tally. While Manipur boxer Babyrojisana looked in brilliant rhythm during her dominating victory against the European Junior Champion Russian Valeriia Linkova, Poonam too switched onto her aggressive mode right from the start and out performed her experienced competitor Sthelyne Grosy. The sharp and immaculate punches Poonam deprived her opponent from France to score any point before sealing a comfortable 5-0 win in the final contest.
Vinka (60kg) also produced a stellar performance as her power packed punches proved to be too strong for Kazakhstan boxer Zhuldyz Shayakhmetova. Referee had to stop the game and announce Indian as the winner. Rajasthan boxer Arundhati contributed with one more gold for India when she clinched a stunning 5-0 triumph against Polish boxer Barbara Marcinkowska in the 69kg final.
The 20-member Indian contingent had already scripted history by securing 11 medals at the current Championships moving ahead of their previous best of 10 medals in 2018 Championships. The only Indian men in the final, Sachin (56kg) will be competing on Friday. Earlier in the men’s category Bishwamitra Chongthom (49kg), Ankit Narwal (64kg) and Vishal Gupta (91kg) earned three bronze medals for India after finishing their campaign in the semis.
The 10-day biennial event, which featured men’s and women’s championship played simultaneously for the first time during the 2018 edition in Hungary, has been a testimony to high competition in presence of 414 boxers from 52 nations.
