Boxers Nikhat Zareen, Amit Panghal, Nitu grab maiden CWG gold medals
Spectacular performance by boxer Nikhat Zareen who won Gold in 48-50 Kg flyweight category at CWG, 2022. Congratulations to her, may she keep soaring higher!
— Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee
BIRMINGHAM: 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. Indian boxers made it three out of three golds on the day as young Nitu Ghanghas (48kg) too reigned supreme on her CWG debut.
In hockey, Indian women’s team overcame the stopwatch controversy to beat New Zealand 2-1 in shootout and win the bronze medal — team’s first medal at CWG in 16 years.
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.
Sagar Ahlawat was to play his final bout later last night.
The India pugilists will return with seven medals from Birmingham, two less than the previous edition.
Meanwhile, Annu Rani scripted history as she became the first Indian female javelin thrower to win a medal, a bronze, in the Commonwealth Games on the penultimate day. Rani sent the spear to a distance of 60m in her fourth attempt to finish third. World champion Kelsey-Lee Barber of Australia stole the gold with a final round throw of 64.43m from compatriot Mackenzie Little (64.27m) who was leading at the end of the penultimate round.
Earlier in the day, Eldhose Paul won a historic triple jump gold in a 1-2 finish for India as the country bagged four medals on a Super Sunday on the concluding day of athletics competitions at the Commonwealth Games.
After the mad rush of four medals coming within 30 minutes, India’s medal tally from athletics swelled to eight — 1 gold, 4 silver, 3 bronze — the best in the CWG history outside the country and only second to the haul at the 2010 edition in Delhi.
The 25-year-old Paul became only the sixth Indian to win a CWG gold since legendary Milkha Singh won it in 1958 in 440 yards.
The Ernakulam-born Indian Navyman led India’s historic 1-2 finish with a best jump of 17.03m in his third attempt after opening with 14.62m. His jump was though wind-assisted and his second best was 16.63m. Before Sunday’s jump, he had a personal best of 16.99m.
Paul’s Kerala statement Abdulla Aboobacker was second with a fifth-round jump of 17.02m. Aboobacker, who has a season’s and personal best of 17.19m, was at fourth spot at the end of the fourth round but soared to 17.02 in his next attempt to jump to second.
In badminton, World Championship silver medallist Kidambi Srikanth prevailed over Singapore’s world number 87 Jia Heng Teh 21-15 21-18 to claim a bronze medal.
In table tennis, the seasoned pair of Achanta Sharath Kamal and G Sathiyan was outsmarted by familiar foes Drinkhall and Liam Pitchford of England in the men’s doubles final. The Indian duo had to settle for silver for the second successive edition after losing 11-8, 8-11, 3-11, 11-7, 4-11 to the English combine.
The Indian mixed doubles pair of Saurav Ghosal and Dipika Pallikal won the bronze medal in the squash event. In a repeat of last edition’s final, Ghosal and Pallikal hardly broke a sweat as they prevailed 11-8 11-4 over the Australian combine of Donna Lobban and Cameron Pilley in the bronze medal play off.
The women’s cricket event, world champions Australia beat India by nine runs in a thriller to win the gold medal.
Batting first, Australia scored 161 for 8 in 20 overs with Beth Mooney scoring 61 off 41 balls while Renuka Singh taking 2 for 25.
In reply, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur smashed 65 off 43 balls but India’s lowerorder caved in meekly to get all out for 152 in 19.3 overs.
The Southern Stars took the last five wickets for 13 runs. Spinner Ashleigh Gardner was the most successful bowler with 3 for 16.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee congratulated players who won gold medals on Sunday.
“More outstanding performances at CWG, 2022! Heartiest congratulations to Eldhose Paul and Amit Panghal for clinching gold medals. The country is proud of your talent and strong athletic spirit. All the best for your future endeavours,” Banerjee tweeted.
In another tweet, she said: “Congratulations to Nitu Ghanghas for winning the gold medal in the women’s minimum weight category. Your remarkable performance is an inspiration to all!”
While congratulating Nikhat Zareen, Banerjee said: “Spectacular performance by boxer Nikhat Zareen who won Gold in 48-50 Kg flyweight category at CWG, 2022. Congratulations to her, may she keep soaring higher!”