India’s boxers put up a dominant show on the twin tours of Russia and Cyprus proving that they are up for a challenge at the upcoming Asian and World Championships later this year.
In their first tournament without protective headgear, the 20-member Indian contingent returned with a rich haul of 10 medals, including the overall team title from the FXTM International Limassol Boxing Cup in Cyprus.
With four gold, three silver and three bronze medals, the contingent finished on top of the table while the Khabarovsk International Competition in Khabarovsk, Russia, fetched two silver and three bronze medals.
With their exceptional performance in Cyprus, the Indian pugilists made history by winning a tournament on the European circuit for the first time.
Reigning national champion Madan Lal (52kg), 2009 Youth Olympic gold medallist V. Durga Rao (56kg), 2012 gold medallist Mandeep Jangra (69kg), and super heavyweight boxer Praveen Kumar (+91kg) clinched the four gold medals.
Jangra, who thumped Spain’s Victor Vega Blanco 21-2, was elated to have won the gold on his 22nd birthday. “I felt I was cheated in the semi-finals when my opponent was getting the points despite me attacking. I narrowly escaped in the final round when I used my head and moved away after throwing punches,” the youngster told this newspaper from Cyrpus.
Jangra added that he was confident of wining the gold after he was given a pep talk by his idol Akhil Kumar.
“He said the only medal that counts is gold and I was confident of winning it after the chat with him.”
Olympians Manoj Kumar (64kg) and Dinesh Kumar (91kg), who beat strong boxers in the semi-finals had to be content with silver. Earlier in the tournament Anil Kumar (60kg), Jagroop Singh (81kg) and L. Devendro Singh (49kg) suffered defeats in the semi-finals of their weight divisions and settled for bronze medals.
Chief national coach G.S. Sandhu was extremely satisfied with the team’s performance. “This is a first for us, we have never won a tournament in European before.
“It is a big achievement for Indian boxers and I am very happy with the way most of our boys fought,” he said.
Meanwhile, though no Indian could manage to claim the top prize in Russia, reigning national champion Thokchom Nanao Singh (49kg) and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Dilbagh (69kg) claimed silvers.
Earlier, pugilists Sunil Kumar (52kg), Shiva Thapa (56kg) and Satish Kumar (+91kg) reached the semi-final stage of the tournament to secure the bronze medals.