Gold Rush: Boxers Nikhat Zareen, Amit Panghal, Nitu grab maiden CWG gold medals
Birmingham, Aug 7: The indomitable Nikhat Zareen added a Commonwealth Games light flyweight (50kg) title to her bulging trophy cabinet while Amit Panghal (51kg) began his redemption journey with a much-needed gold winning show, here on Sunday.
Nikhat, who is on a winning spree since the Nationals last year, asserted her dominance over Northern Ireland's Carly Mc Naul as she punched her way to a comprehensive 5-0 win in her maiden CWG appearance.
Panghal, on the other hand, avenged his 2018 Commonwealth Games final loss against Kiaran MacDonald by clinching the title with a comprehensive 5-0 win over the favourite.
Indian boxers made it three out of three golds on the day as young Nitu Ghanghas (48kg) too reigned supreme on her CWG debut.
Sagar Ahlawat will play his final bout later tonight.
The India pugilists will return with seven medals from Birmingham, two less than the previous edition.
Nikhat started off the year by clinching a gold at the prestigious Strandja Memorial tournament before going on to become a world champion.
The Telangana boxer, who dropped from 52kg to 50kg for the CWG, glided around the ring, landing hooks and tight jabs at will. Her defence was equally impressive.
Such was her dominance that when the nine minutes ended there was no doubt which way the decision would go.
Having lost to a Briton four years ago at the same stage in Gold Coast, the 26-year-old Panghal was at his aggressive best against MacDonald as he clinched the yellow metal with a 5-0 verdict.
The dominating Panghal, who was lightning quick with his jabs, also left MacDonald with a cut above his right eye that needed a few stitches and a stoppage in play as the Indian was on song.
Using his height advantage, MacDonald tried to bounce back in the third round but the Asian Games champion had it easy.
The turning point for Panghal, however, was the semifinal win over Zambia's Tokyo Olympian Patrick Chinyemba as the Indian bounced back to win the bout.
"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 tough because I was fighting an Englishman in England but the judges were very fair and very accurate," Panghal said.
With the gold, Panghal also put his disappointing Tokyo Olympics outing where he made a round of 16 exit, behind.
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 with her unwavering gaze into 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, 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."
The legendary MC Mary Kom had won the coveted yellow metal in the same category at the 2018 Games.
Incidentally, it was in the selection trial against Nitu that Mary Kom had injured her knee and had to withdraw.
HAR PUNCH MEIN JEET! 🔥🔥🔥
— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) August 7, 2022
Reigning World Champion @nikhat_zareen 🥊 dominates a tricky opponent Carly MC Naul (NIR) via UNANIMOUS DECISION and wins the coveted GOLD MEDAL 🥇 in the Women's 50kg event at #CWG2022
Extraordinary from our Champ 💪💪#Cheer4India#India4CWG2022 pic.twitter.com/4RBfXi2LQy
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Mamata visits Bhabanipur EVM strong room, warns against counting irregularities
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee early Friday warned against any attempt to tamper with the counting process, hours after she visited an EVM strong room in Bhabanipur, alleging possible malpractice.
Banerjee, who emerged around 12:07 am after spending nearly four hours at the counting centre for her Bhabanipur constituency housed in Sakhawat Memorial School in south Kolkata, said only one person would be allowed inside the designated counting area.
"Either the candidate or one agent can stay upstairs. I have also suggested installation of a CCTV camera for the media," she told reporters.
Stressing the need for transparency, she said, "It is essential to maintain transparency. People’s votes must be protected. I rushed here after receiving complaints. The central forces initially did not allow me to enter."
Sounding a stern note ahead of the May 4 counting, she added, "If there is any plan to tamper with the counting process, it will not be tolerated."
On Thursday evening, Banerjee had reached the Bhabanipur Assembly segment counting centre, which houses the strong room for EVMs used in the April 29 polling, citing suspicion of tampering with the machines.
She entered the premises along with her election agent and remained inside for hours, even as Kolkata Mayor and TMC candidate from the Kolkata Port segment Firhad Hakim reached the spot but could not meet her.
"I reached here upon learning that the chief minister has arrived. But I couldn’t meet her since she was already inside the premises, exercising her right as a candidate to visit strong rooms. I wasn’t allowed there. I will not be able to confirm what exactly is transpiring inside," Hakim said.
The development coincided with protests by TMC candidates Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja outside the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in north Kolkata, where they staged a sit-in alleging irregularities and possible tampering of EVMs stored in strong rooms, leading to face-offs between TMC and BJP supporters.
Earlier in a video message, Banerjee had urged party leaders, workers and polling agents to maintain a 24-hour vigil on EVM strong rooms, alleging that the BJP could attempt to tamper with the machines before counting begins.
Her remarks come amid heightened political tension in the state following a fiercely contested Assembly election, with parties closely monitoring arrangements and raising concerns over transparency.
