India end Thailand Open Boxing Tournament campaign with 10 medals

Monika, Amit, Varinder and Ashish claim silver medals while three boxers bagged bronze.

India’s Govind Sahani, Ananta Chopde and Sumit concluded their impressive run at the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament with gold medals in Phuket on Saturday. The trio registered commanding victories against their respective opponents from Thailand. Four other Indian boxers—Monika (48kg), Amit Panghal (52kg), Varinder Singh (60kg) and Ashish Kumar (81kg), claimed silver medals after enduring defeats in the finals.Manisha (57kg), Pooja (69kg) and Bhagyabati Kachari (75kg) secured bronze medals with their semi-finals finish. The 15-member Indian contingent ended their campaign with 10 medals. The Indian boxers also bettered the last edition’s medal tally of eight medals—one gold, four silver and three bronze.

The tournament's first goal for the country was handed by Sahani when he outperformed Natthaphon Thuamcharoen with a 5-0 win in the men’s 48kg contest. Chopde and Sumit, too, were quite dominant during their identical wins by unanimous decisions. While Chopde blanked Ritthiamon Saengsawang in the men’s 54kg final, Sumit defeated Peetapat Yeasungnoen in the men’s 75kg category.

Meanwhile, playing the first international tournament post their outings in the 2020 Olympic Games, Panghal and the defending champion Ashish suffered contrasting defeats. Panghal tried his all but went down fighting 2-3 against Rogen Ladon of the Philippines in a men’s 52kg thriller. Ashish lost to Kazakhstan’s Nurbek Oralbay by a 0-5 margin in the men’s 81kg final.

Monika (48kg) and Varinder (60kg) lost to Thailand boxers Chutamas Raksat and Khunatip Pidnuch respectively by a similar margin 0-5.

Gold medal winners earned USD 2000 while silver and bronze medallists took home USD 1000 and USD 500 respectively. The tournament witnessed thrilling competition with the participation of 130 top boxers including 74 males and 56 females, from Asia, Europe, Oceania and Africa.

Medallists at the Thailand Open International Boxing:

Gold: Govind Sahani (48kg), Ananta Chopde (54kg) and Sumit (75kg); Silver: Monika (48kg), Amit Panghal (52kg), Varinder Singh (60kg) and Ashish Kumar (81kg); Bronze: Manisha (57kg), Pooja (69kg) and Bhagyabati Kachari (75kg)

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