World Championship medalist Amit Panghal and Sachin Siwach clinched gold medals, while Nikhat Zareen and three other Indian boxers secured silver medals at the 75th Strandja Memorial tournament held on February 11, Sunday.
Amit Panghal, who won silver at the 2019 World Championships, delivered a commanding performance in the men's flyweight final (51kg), defeating Kazakhstan's Sanzhar Tashkenbay with a flawless 5-0 victory.
Sachin Siwach, a former world youth champion, upgraded his medal from bronze to gold in the 57kg category, prevailing over Uzbekistan's Shakhzod Muzafarov with a unanimous 5-0 decision.
However, despite their efforts, two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen (50kg), Arundhati Choudhary (66kg), Barun Singh Shagolshem (48kg), and Rajat (67kg) settled for silver medals after losing their respective bouts.
Overall, India concluded the tournament with a total of eight medals: two gold, four silver, and two bronze.
Panghal delivered forceful punches
In a commanding display, Panghal delivered forceful punches, asserting his dominance over Tashkenbay with remarkable precision and speed in his attacks.
Panghal, who previously secured the bronze medal in 2017 and consecutive titles in 2018 and 2019, consistently landed accurate jabs and left hooks, maintaining control over the bout without relenting at any moment.
As the match unfolded, the Commonwealth and Asian Games champion intensified his dominance, maintaining an aggressive stance even into the third round, securing his fourth consecutive unanimous decision victory in the tournament.
Despite his impressive performance, the Armyman from Haryana, who recently lost his position in the Indian team to 2023 Worlds bronze medalist Deepak Bhoria, will not be participating in the Paris Olympics qualifiers later this month.
Sachin took some time to find his rhythm. Both boxers displayed dominance in the initial round, although the Indian managed to secure it with a narrow 3-2 margin.
As the contest progressed, the Haryana boxer gained confidence, utilizing his height advantage while meticulously timing his punches in the second and third rounds, ultimately emerging triumphant.
Zareen suffers narrow defeat in hard-fought battle
Zareen faced off against 20-year-old Junior Asian champion Sabina Bobokulova of Uzbekistan, who had previously defeated Asian Games champion Wu Yu in the light flyweight semifinals.
The initial six minutes of the match were intense, with both fighters engaging aggressively. However, Zareen's defensive stance wasn't as tight, allowing Bobokulova to land decisive counter-attacks.
Bobokulova showcased solid defensive skills, making it challenging for Zareen to connect with her punches.
Trailing after the first two rounds, Zareen entered the final three minutes with renewed vigor. She landed clean and precise punches, winning the third round. However, Bobokulova's overall performance secured the judges' favor.
National champion Arundhati faced a 1-4 defeat against reigning world champion Liu Yang of China in the 66kg final.
Yang, relying on her experience, executed calculated moves and prioritized defense, strategically scoring points throughout the match.
Barun suffered a 0-4 loss to Khodzhiev Anvarzhan of Kyrgyzstan in the final. While the Indian boxer made an impression in the initial minute, his opponent displayed greater aggression.
Barun displayed resilience in the third round, securing a 3-2 victory. However, the final verdict favored his opponent.
Rajat, who received a walkover in the semifinals, narrowly lost to Bekhbauov Dulat of Kazakhstan by a 2-3 margin.
The bout remained evenly poised, with both boxers utilizing their strength and delivering multiple blows consistently.
However, the Kazakh boxer's calculated moves and consistent scoring secured him a narrow victory in the final round, clinching the match 3-2.
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