India’s Shakshi defeated Nikolina Cacic of Croatia to bag her successive gold medal in the featherweight category of the AIBA Youth Women’s and Men’s World Boxing Championships which concluded at Budapest today.
Other two women youth pugilists, Anamika (51 Kg) and Manisha (64 Kg) playing in their respective finals had to settle for silver medals as they went down fighting to their opponents.
But it was overall a fantastic showing from our youth boxers who finished the event with two gold, two silver and six bronze medals, including two from our boys. India also topped the women’s overall performance as the No 1 team, ahead of boxing powerhouse Russia with 26 points to 23 of Russia.
Shakshi was on the offensive right from the bell despite her reach, Nikolina was found wanting when it came to avoiding the right hooks and the left-right combination punches which came in a flurry from Shakshi, who won her first gold at the same meet held in India last year. Croat was almost on the ropes and the referee stopped the contest to declare the Indian winner in a RSC verdict.
Anamika was pitted against America’s Heaven Destiny Garcia, a World Youth Gold medalist in fly category (51 kg). Anamika did begin well only to lose way midway through as the American sent down combination punches to the surprise of the Indian. In the end, the US boxer won 4:1 and the gold, leaving the Indian to be satisfied with the silver medal.
{{/usCountry}}Anamika was pitted against America’s Heaven Destiny Garcia, a World Youth Gold medalist in fly category (51 kg). Anamika did begin well only to lose way midway through as the American sent down combination punches to the surprise of the Indian. In the end, the US boxer won 4:1 and the gold, leaving the Indian to be satisfied with the silver medal.
{{/usCountry}}In the eighth bout of the night in which Manisha was fighting in the light welter class (64 kg), she was facing Gemma Paig Richardson of England. With her good reach and close guard, the Indian found it difficult to get an opening to land her punches and had to finally settle for a silver, losing 0-5 to the English boxer.
Incidentally, this was the best ever showing by an Indian women squad which consisted of 10 girls and 8 of them have picked medals.
Medals Tally-Girls
1- 48 kg Nitu- Gold
2- 57 kg Sakshi-Gold
3- 51 kg Anamika-Silver
4- 64 kg Manisha-Silver
5- 60 kg Jony-Bronze
6- 75 kg Astha- Bronze
7- 81 kg Sakshi Umesh Gaidhani-Bronze
8- +81 kg Neha Yadav- Bronze
Medals Tally-Boys
1- 52 kg Bhavesh -Bronze
2- 60 kg Ankit- Bronze