Khelo India 2019, Boxing: Haryana make a big surge with eight gold medals

Pune, Jan 18: Favourites Ankit Narwal, Vanshaj, and Preeti Dahiya played a key role for Haryana who reaped as many as eight gold, eight silver and fifteen bronze medals from boxing in the Boys' Under-17 and Girls’ Under-17 categories at the Boxing hall on Friday at Khelo India Youth Games.

Hosts Maharashtra were close behind, winning five gold while Manipur girls marked their presence by winning two gold. Madhya Pradesh, Chandigarh, Punjab, Karnataka, and Rajasthan won one gold medal each.

The ‘Dancing-boxing’ girls of Maharashtra – Devika Ghorpade and Mitika Gunele - who both have a great interest in dancing too, won a gold medal each in their respective categories. Devika playing in 46kg class edged out Haryana girl Tamanna 3-2.

“She was down with fever during her semi-finals bout. Thankfully she got a little rest just before the final and she played her heart out against the Haryana girl. Interestingly, last year in sub-junior national finals, she was also down with fever but returned with a gold,” said Devika’s father Satyajeet Ghorpade.

Meanwhile, Mitika, who was a gold medallist in Khelo India School Games (KISG) last year, defended her title in the 66kg class. Effectively using her raw power in a combination of punches and jabs, Mitika outshined Muskan from Haryana. The coaches and Haryana supporters were repeatedly urging Muskan to go all out, but the Haryana girl proved no match to the 7th Nation Cup gold medallist Mitika.

“Earlier, Mitika used to play in lighter weight class but her actions were comparatively slower. So, we decided to put her in heavier weight class and this move suited her as she has been winning consistently. Her confidence level has grown up and will do better in coming years,” said Maharashtra girls under-17 coach Arun Bute.

Haryana’s Vanshaj and Ankit Narwal overcame stiff resistance from Maharashtra pugilists in the final. Vanshaj faced lanky Akash Gorkha in the 57kg class, while Ankit was challenged by Laisharam Singh.

Vanshaj played a clever bout. Despite being at a height disadvantage against his opponent, he managed to gather valuable points in the third round.

On the other hand, Asian bronze medallist Ankit was confident and waited for the right time to launch an attack. His waiting move turned out to be the match winner.

Results: (all finals)

Boys' U17

Pin (46kg): Ruchir Shrivas (MP) bt Manish Rathore (UP) 3-2; Bronze: Anshul Saroha (Har), Rudra Pratap Singh (Chd).

Light Fly (48kg): Bishwamitra Chongtham (Mah) bt Zorammuana (Miz) 4-1; Bronze: Nameirakpam Singh (Mah), Kabir Pandit (Har)

Fly (50kg): Shaikhom Singh (Mah) bt Laldinsanga (Miz) 5-0; Bronze: Naveen Siwach (Har), Vikash (Har)

Light Bantam (52kg): Ankit (Har) bt Sanjay Kumar (Utk) 5-0; Bronze: Navraj Chauhan (HP), Harshit (Har)

Bantam (54kg): Yaiphaba Meitei (Mah) bt Yashwardhan Singh (Har) 3-2; Bronze: Abhinash Jamwal (PB), Pardeep (Har)

Feather (57kg): Vanshaj (Har) bt Akash Gorkha (Mah) 3-2; Bronze: Aman Duhan (Har), Deepak (Har)

Light (60kg): Ankit Narwal (Har) bt Laisharam Singh (Mah) 3-2; Bronze: Rahul Mamgai (UP), Saurabh Chand (Utk)

Light Welter (63kg): Ajay Kumar (Har) bt Ankush (Har) w/o; Bronze: Saksham Singh (UP), Dhruv Singh (Del)

Welter (66kg): Aman (Chd) bt Manish (Har) 3-2; Bronze: Pankaj Kumar (Chd), Vikas Chauhan (UP)

Light Middle (70kg): Sumit (Har) bt Rahul (Chd) w/o; Bronze: Yatinder Bharadwaj (Har), Tonit (Har)

Girls' U17

Pin (46kg): Devika Ghorpade (Mah) bt Tamanna (Har) 3-2: Bronze: Priyanka Borah (Asm), Rinku (Har)

Light Fly (48kg): Ekta Saroj (PB) bt Tingmila Doungel (MN) 3-2; Bronze: Sanjeeta (Har), Laxmi Patil (Mah)

Fly (50kg): Anju Devi (Kar) bt Nongthomban Devi (MN) 4-1; Bronze: Sheetal Rani (Har), Suman Yadav (Goa)

Light Bantam (52kg): N Babyrojisana Chanu (MN) bt Saraswati Boro (Asm) 5-0; Bronze: Ritika (UP), Lalthuhlungdiki (Miz)

Bantam (54kg): Poonam (Har) bt Poonam (PB) 5-0; Bronze: Neha Mehta (Utk), Thongan Kunjurani Devi (MN)

Feather (57kg): Huidrom Ambeshori Devi (MN) bt Sovi Jajo (MN) 5-0; Bronze: Arshi Khanam (Raj), Neha (Har)

Light (60kg): Preeti Dahiya (Har) bt Yashi Sharma (Har) 5-0; Bronze: Elisabath Sinu (Ker), Sana Gonsalves (Mah)

Light Welter (63kg): Mahi Raghav (Har) bt Vinka (Har) 4-1; Bronze: Sneha (HP), Nisha Gurjar (Raj)

Welter (66kg): Mitika Gunele (Mah) bt Muskan (Har) 5-0; Bronze: Alisha Sunny (Ker), Harnoor Kaur (Chd);

Light middle (70kg): Arundhati Choudhary (Raj) bt Pranjal Yadav (Har) 5-0; Bronze: Raj Sahiba (Har), Sanamacha Chanu (MN).