Amit Panghal, Shiva Thapa win gold; Services defend title at Men's National Boxing Championship

Published at :December 2, 2023 at 6:10 PM

Modified at :January 14, 2024 at 12:10 AM

Defending champions Services Sports Control Board retained their crown with 10 gold medals.

Amit Panghal and Shiva Thapa clinched gold as SSCB defended their crown at the 7th Elite Men’s National Boxing Championship.

In an impressive display, heavy favorites Amit Panghal (51kg) and Shiva Thapa (63.5kg) secured gold medals, contributing to SSCB’s (Services Sports Control Board) dominance at the 7th Elite Men’s National Boxing Championship in Shillong. SSCB topped the rankings with 12 medals, including 10 golds, amassing 90 points.

Amit Panghal, the 2019 World Championships silver medalist, faced Anshul Punia of Chandigarh in the 51kg category final, delivering a dominant performance and securing the gold with a unanimous 5-0 decision.

Shiva Thapa, a record six-time Asian medalist from Assam, faced Vanshaj of SSCB in the 63.5kg final. Thapa showcased his prowess yet again, claiming a commanding victory with a flawless score of 5-0, successfully defending his title.

In a closely contested bout, SSCB’s Jugnoo faced Vishal of Haryana in the 86kg final. Jugnoo exhibited both skill and composure, securing a 5-2 split decision win.

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Continuing SSCB’s victories, Sanjeet (92kg), the 2021 Asian champion, faced Naveen Kumar of Haryana in a repeat of last year’s final. This time, Sanjeet emerged victorious with a resounding 5-0 win.

SSCB dominated the tournament with a total of ten gold and two silver medals, with pugilists like Barun Singh (48kg), Sachin (57kg), Rajat (67kg), Akash (71kg), Deepak (75kg), and Lakshya (80kg) securing gold medals. Pawan (54kg) and Vanshaj (63.5kg) clinched silver medals.

RSPB, with five silver and two bronze (41 points), and Haryana, with two silver and two bronze (31 points), claimed second and third positions, respectively.

Jaipal Singh of Punjab created a huge upset by stunning Sagar, the 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medalist, in the 92+kg final with a knockout victory in the third round.

In the 54kg final, Lalit representing AIP (All India Police) faced Pawan of SSCB. Lalit initially dominated, but Pawan staged a remarkable comeback. Lalit maintained composure and secured a hard-fought 4-3 split decision win for the gold.

Apart from the medals, Akash Sangwan (71kg) from SSCB was awarded the best boxer of the tournament due to his consistent performances throughout.

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