Boxing stars Nitu Ghanghas and Saweety Boora made our country proud by becoming the World Champions in their own respective categories in the ongoing Women’s World Boxing Championships in the national capital on Saturday. These wins made Nitu Ghanghas and Saweety Boora India’s sixth and seventh boxers respectively to win the world championship (male or female).
Nitu Ghanghas secured a gold medal in the 45-48 kg category final against Mongolia’s Lutsaikhan Altantsetseg at the Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi on Saturday. Saweety Boora enjoyed a dream run in the 81-kg category. She defeated China’s Wang Lina in the summit clash at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi arena. This was India’s second medal in the championship after Nitu Ghanghas.
After putting up a marvellous performance, Nitu Ghanghas claimed her title in presence of the Beijing Olympics bronze medalist and her idol Vijender Singh.
In the first round, the gold medalist was able to score 5-0 by using a combination of techniques effectively that included punches, jabs, and many more.
In the second round, she ushered in with a series of straight jabs and countered her opponent with right hooks. Nitu was handed a penalty deduction for clinching towards the end of the second round but she still managed to take the round to 3-2.
In the final three minutes, Nitu started from far but soon ditched the strategy and reverted to playing from a close range as Altansetseg was also handed a point deduction for clinching. Nitu won her three bouts by RSC (Referee stops contest).
Saweety Boora made a huge redemption by winning this gold medal for the loss she had on the top prize in 2014. The 30-year-old managed to achieve her dream and take home the group medal.
India now has a total of 12 Women’s World Boxing Championships gold medals with legendary MC Mary Kom winning six of them. These wins, add the two gold medalists to the elite list which includes Mary Kom (2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2018), Sarita Devi (2006), Jenny RL (2006), Lekha KC (2006), and Nikhat Zareen (2022).
