Gold Coast (Australia): Indian athletes clinched as many as eight gold medals on the penultimate day of the 21st Commonwealth Games (CWG) being held in Gold Coast in Australia.
India has 59 medals in total with 25 gold medals in the games so far. India has won 16 silver and 18 bronze medals till now at the 21st Commonwealth Games.
Star Indian boxer M.C. Mary Kom won gold in the women's 48 kilogram category by defeating Kristina O'Hara of Northern Ireland by a unanimous 5:0 verdict to take the title.
Neeraj Chopra won the men's Javelin title at the games and became the first Indian to do so in the history. Neeraj registered his season's best performance of 86.47 metres in the final.
Boxer Gaurav Solanki won gold medal in the men's flyweight (52 kilogram) category. Solanki won a tough, fast paced, tactical battle by a split 4:1 verdict against the impressive Brendan Irvine of Northern Ireland in the final.
Meanwhile, India's Manish Kaushik had to be content with silver in the men's lightweight (60kg) division.
Indian wrestlers did the nation proud as Sumit Malik won the 125 kilogram freestyle title while Vinesh Phogat took women's 50kg gold. Sumit won all his four bouts in the Nordic (round robin) format to emerge champion. Korey Jarvis of Canada got the silver while Pakistan's Tayab Raza took the bronze.
Among the women, Vinesh won gold in the 50kg competition as she ended at the top of the standings at the end of the Nordic format. Vinesh defeated Miesinnei Genesis of Nigeria, Rupinder Kaur of Australia and Canada's Jessica MacDonald.
Meanwhile, Rio Olympics medallist Sakshi Malik took the bronze medal in the women's 62kg category.
Indian paddler Manika Batra clinched a gold medal in the women's singles category at the games. Manika outplayed Mengyu Yu of Singapore 4-0 (11-7, 11-6, 11-2, 11-7) to clinch the gold medal. This is India's first ever gold in the women's singles event at the CWG.
Indian boxer Vikas Krishan defeated Dieudonne Wilfried Seyi Ntsengue of Cameroon in the 75kg category final to clinch the eighth Gold of the day for the country. Vikas won by a 5:0 unanimous verdict against Ntsengue in a close contest which saw both the boxers claiming to have won the bout before the referee's verdict. It was Vikas' first medal at the CWG.
(With IANS Inputs)
Mary had previously clinched the gold medal on five occasions -- 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 -- besides bagging a silver on her debut in 2001.
Thursday's semi-final bout got off with a rousing welcome for the seasoned Indian boxer, as Mary started with swift movements and successfully negated the height advantage of her rival.
While the North Korean came back aggressively in the second round, Mary was quick enough to reserve her punches before coming up with a right arm jab to tame her opponent.
In the third and final round, Kim tried using her height and long reach but Mary used all her experience to thwart any challenge.
The 35-year-old Manipuri pugilist, who is still tied with Katie Taylor of Ireland on five gold medals, has an opportunity to become the most successful woman boxer if she beats Ukraine's Hanna Okhota in the final.
"I will try my best in the final. I fought with this girl in Poland and I have beaten her. I will try my best inside the ring," Mary said after her semi-final bout.
Olympic medallist Mary registered a comprehensive 5:0 victory over China's Wu Yu in the light flyweight (48 kg) category at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex here.
With this victory, the 35-year-old has assured herself of a seventh World Championship medal.
Mary will now take on North Korea's Kim Hyang Mi on Thursday.
Mary registered a unanimous 5:0 win over Kazakhstan's Aigerim Kassenayeva in the flyweight category (48kg). Sarita, on the other hand, lost by a 2:3 split decision to Ireland's Kellie Anne Harrington in the lightweight 60kg category to bow out.
Apart from Mary, Manisha Moun, Lovlina Borgohain and Bhagyabati Kachari all marched into the quarterfinals on the fourth day of the championships.
In the first match, Mary started the first round on a positive note, landing a few punches and jabs without taking much risk.
The second round saw Mary displaying some attacking game. The veteran Indian boxer landed some powerful punches to take a much needed advantage.
In the third round, Aigerim tried to bounce back but it was too late as in the first two rounds she could not match the pace of the Indian boxer.
Mary will take on Wu Yu of China in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
Talking after the bout, Mary said: "Feeling good, the pressure is off. I always enjoyed boxing, it has been my life whether I train or compete in tournaments," said the mother of three children.
In the 69kg category, Sarita lost a close contest. Sarita showed some great moves. Towards the end Sarita pulled a lot of punches and also landed it on the mark but the umpires decision went in favour of her opponent.
"I thought I got unluckier. Some points did not go my way. But I will continue to box as long as I can," said a dejected Sarita.
Among other players, Manisha outpunched her way to upstage reigning world champion Dina Zholaman from Kazakhstan with a unanimous 5:0 decision in the 54 kg pre-quarterfinals.
Equally impressive was Lovlina in her 69 kg pre-quarterfinal bout against Panama's Atheyna Bylon, former world champion.
In the last bout of the afternoon, Baghyabati proved her prowess, beating Germany's Irina-Nicoletta Schonberger in a split verdict (4:1) in the 81 kg category.
Mary's experience and superior technique stood her in good stead as she carved out a unanimous 5:0 verdict against the veteran Sri Lankan fighter.
The 39-year-old Anusha gave a good account of herself against the five-time world champion Indian before falling short in the end.
Both boxers were a bit cautious in the opening round, trying to gauge each other although Mary managed to land several punches.
Although the Lankan had the height and reach advantage, Mary used a low guard and used her reflexes and feet movement to take the advantage.
Both boxers were equally matched in the second round before the tempo picked up in the third as Mary picked up the points with a steady barrage of punches.
Later in the day, Laishram Sarita Devi fell short in the women's 60kg category, going down to Australia's Anja Stridsman in the quarter-finals.
Sarita did well to trouble her opponent with superior technique and excellent movements throughout the fight and it came as surprise of sorts when the judges decided to award a unanimous 5:0 verdict in favour of the Australian.
Sarita dominated the opening round, attacking right from the start while the Australian had a more defensive approach.
The tempo picked up in the second round as Anja tried to match Sarita's pace and aggression. The Indian used her superior technique and experience in her attempt to outpunch her opponent, but Anja did well to give her a tough challenge.
Both boxers came out fighting in the third round. Anju used her superior height and strong left jabs in her attempt to keep the Indian at bay.
Mary Kom, who was on comeback trail after taking an almost two-year-long break due to the birth of her third child, lost to Pinki Jangra (51kg) in the finals of the three-day selection trials which concluded in Patiala today.
"It was a close bout and I wish Pinki all the best. I hope she brings India a medal," a disappointed Mary Kom told PTI after the setback.
A source told PTI that the bout between Pinki and Mary Kom was even-stevens for most parts but the youngster from Haryana got the selectors' nod for her sheer aggression and agile footwork.
"This is the biggest breakthrough of my career. I respect Mary didi a lot, she has been an inspiration for us. I am very excited to get this opportunity and would look to make the most of it," Jangra told PTI.
"I think I beat Mary didi because I have been an active camper and she was coming back after a break. So, I managed to catch her off-guard," she said.
Women's boxing will be making its debut in three weight categories at the CWG two years after the breakthrough in the London Olympics.
The other boxers who were selected in the women's squad are former World Championship silver-medallist L Sarita Devi (60kg) and Pooja Rani (75kg).
The 24-year-old Jangra is an Asian Championships silver-medallist and had first burst into the scene by beating Mary Kom at the 2009 National Championships.
"I am the youngest child in the family and initially when I started boxing after being inspired by my brother, my parents were very protective of me. But eventually they came around," said Jangra.
The name of 48-year-old Deepa, who won a silver in the shot put F53 category in the 2016 Rio Paralympics, was added for the Khel Ratna by a 12-member selection committee on the second day of the two-day meeting.
World No. 1 wrestler in 65kg, Punia was nominated for the country's top award on Friday by the panel headed by Justice (Retd) Mukundakam Sharma.
Six-time world champion and Olympic bronze medallist boxer M C Mary Kom recused herself from the meeting to avoid conflict of interest as her personal coach Chhotelal Yadav was in contention for the Dronacharya Award.
The committee also picked 19 sportspersons for the Arjuna Award, including the likes of cricketers Ravindra Jadeja and Poonam Yadav, track and field stars Tejinder Pal Singh Toor, Mohammed Anas and Swapna Barman, footballer Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, hockey player Chinglensana Singh Kangujam and shooter Anjum Moudgil.
As per guidelines, to be eligible for the award, a sportsperson should not only have had good performance consistently for the previous four years at the international level with excellence for the year for which the Award is recommended, but should also have shown qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline.
The panel also nominated three names for the Dronacharya Award, including former badminton star Vimal Kumar, and three for the Dronacharya Award (lifetime caregory).
(With PTI inputs)
Mary Kom will represent the Asian bloc in the group, which also comprises the likes of Ukrainian legend Vasyl Lamachenko (Europe), a two-time Olympic and world gold-medallist who now plies his trade in the professional circuit, and five-time world champion and 2016 Olympic gold-winner Julio Cesar La Cruz (Americas) among others.
The 36-year-old Indian recently surpassed herself as the most successful boxer in the history of the world championships when she claimed her eighth medal, a bronze, at the marquee event's latest edition in Russia. She is also an Olympic bronze-medallist in the 51kg category besides being a five-time Asian champion and a Commonwealth and Asian Games gold-medallist.
"One female and one male ambassador per region will take on the role of engaging with the boxing community both in person and digitally," the IOC said in a statement.
"They will also help the Boxing Task Force (BTF) take into account the athletes' voice in all areas of its planning for the qualification events and the boxing tournament at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020," it added.
Boxing has been in administrative turmoil after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stripped the International Boxing Association (AIBA) of the rights to conduct the Olympic competition earlier this year, taking complete control of even the qualifying process.
The IOC asserted that AIBA failed to put its house in order as far as administrative integrity and management of finances was concerned.
"In all of the work of the Boxing Task Force we want to put boxers first. We are delighted with this group of diverse and inspirational athletes who make up the Athlete Ambassadors...," said Morinari Watanabe, IOC Member and Chair of the Boxing Task Force.
"...look forward to working closely with them in all areas of our decisions and event planning to make sure the athletes are not only at the centre of our work, but also actively engaged in it," he added.
The creation of an Athlete Ambassadors Group was announced in August this year, and they had to be first nominated by the respective National Olympic Committee (NOC), NOC Athletes' Commission and the National Federation (NF).
Other requirements included having competed at international competitions in the past four years, being born no later than December 31, 2001; being an amateur or professional boxer; and not having incurred any measure or sanction in relation to any violation of the Olympic Charter, the IOC Code of Ethics, and the World Anti-Doping Code.
The Athletes Ambassadors' Group:
Men: Lukmo Lawal (Africa), Julio Cesar La Cruz (Americas), Jianguan Asiahu (Asia), Vasyl Lamachenko (Europe), David Nyika (Oceania).
Women: Khadija Mardi (Africa), Mikaela Mayer (Americas), M C Mary Kom (Asia), Sarah Ourahmoune (Europe), Shelley Watts (Oceania).
Top seed Panghal notched a hard-earned 3-2 triumph over Mongolia's Enkhmanadakh Kharkhuu, while the second-seeded Mary Kom produced a typically clinical performance to dismantle New Zealand's Commonwealth Games bronze-winner Tasmyn Benny for a 5-0 triumph.
Up next for Mary Kom is Filipino Irish Magno, who clobbered Hong Kong's Winnie Au Yin Yin to force a win in just the second round of her last-16 bout.
The 23-year-old Panghal, who became India's first silver-medallist at the world championships last year, came out unscathed after an intense fast-paced slugfest in which fortunes swung quite wildly and will next face a familiar foe in Philippine's Carlo Paalam.
Panghal beat him in the semifinals of the 2018 Asian Games and the quarterfinals of the 2019 world championships.
The reigning Asian Games and Asian champion had to dig deep to edge past an aggressive and energetic Kharhuu. Panghal was expectedly quick on his feet, displayed a terrific counter-attacking game and his left hand proved to be especially effective in the first two rounds.
However, the Mongolian sustained the pressure in the final three minutes in which Panghal seemed a bit off-colour. But, he managed just enough to pull through and fetch a divided verdict, avenging his loss to the Mongolian in the World Military Games last year.
"My plan was to be aggressive from the beginning and I think that proved to be a good plan. I am happy with my performance," Panghal said after the bout.
Mary Kom, on the other hand, made it look quite easy as she outmanoeuvred the Kiwi boxer with her sharp reflexes and a superior counter-attacking game. The 37-year-old veteran's command over the proceedings was quite impressive.
In another intense pre-quarterfinal bout, Commonwealth Games silver-medallist Gaurav Solanki (57kg) was beaten 1-4 by top-seeded Uzbek Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov.
Mirzakhalilov, the reigning world champion besides being a gold-winner at the Asian Games and the Asian Championships, dominated the opening round, was bested by the Indian in the second before roaring back to claim the final round honours and with it, the bout.
(PTI)
Also ending with bronze medals were Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) and Pooja Rani (75kg). All the six boxers have already secured their tickets to the Olympic Games by making the semifinals but Krishan and Kaur will come back with at least silver medals after entering the finals.
Krishan fought with a cut sustained on his left eyelid before claiming a split decision victory over second seed Ablaikhan Zhussupov of Kazakhstan, a two-time world bronze-medallist.
The 28-year-old Krishan will face feisty Jordanian Eishaih Hussein, who sent Asian gold-medallist and top seed Bobo-Usmon Baturov packing in a split decision.
Krishan, a former world bronze-winner and a Commonwealth Games gold-medallist, was the busier of the two boxers despite the injury he picked up in the second round and his right jabs were particularly effective through the bout.
Kaur, on the other hand, upstaged third seed and Asian silver-medallist Shih-Yi Wu of Taiwan in a terrific come-from-behind win. The Indian trailed in the opening round, roared back in the second with her precisely-placed combination punches before fending off a strong attack from Wu in the final three minutes.
She will take on Korea's Oh Yeonji in the final on Wednesday.
In another good result, first-timer Sachin Kumar (81kg) remained in the hunt for an Olympic berth by defeating Manh Cuong Nguyen of Vietnam 4-1 in the first box-off. He will have to get the better of Shabbos Negmatulloev of Tajikistan in the last box-off on Wednesday to book a ticket to Tokyo as only the top five qualify in his weight category.
However, in a major disappointment for India, six-time world champion Mary Kom lost to China's Chang Yuan, a former Youth Olympics champion, in a split verdict.
Also bowing out with a bronze was world silver-medallist and top seed Panghal, who went down to Jianguan Hu of China in a split 3-2 decision. It was revenge for Hu, an Olympic and world bronze-medallist who lost to Panghal in the Asian semifinals last year.
Panghal had endured exhausting contests in the run-up to the semifinals and he could not outpace the determined Chinese in Tuesday's clash.
Earlier, two-time world bronze-medallist and second seed Borgohain lost to third seed and 2018 world silver-medallist Hong Gu of China in a unanimous 5-0 verdict after struggling to find her range against the experienced 30-year-old.
Rani too could not find her rhythm against world champion and top seed Li Qian, who is also a two-time Asian gold-medallist.
Eight Indian boxers have qualified for the Tokyo Games at the ongoing event so far, making India the most successful team here along with traditional powerhouse Kazakhstan.
(PTI)