National Games: UT boxers in semis, 5 medals assured

The city is assured of at least five more medals in the ongoing 38th National Games in Uttarakhand as five of its boxers made it to the semifinals today.

Nitish beat Manikandan of Tamil Nadu by unanimous decision 5-0 in the light heavyweight category at Shri Hari Singh Thapa Sports College Indoor Stadium in Pithoragarh.

Anshul Punia (51kg) of Chandigarh beat Zorammuana of Mizoram by a split decision 4-1 in the flyweight category. Punia was the first boxer to reach the semifinals today.

“It is very satisfying to reach up to this stage. I will give my best in the semifinals. Right now, I am trying to stay focused.”

Manu (66kg) beat Vanlalhriaptui of Mizoram by a unanimous decision in the welterweight category.

In the girls section, city’s Ritika (50kg) beat Kusum of UP by a split decision (4-1) in the light flyweight category.

Pranshu Rathore (75 kg) beat Vidhi of Maharashtra by a unanimous decision (5-0) in the middleweight category.

Chandigarh Amateur Boxing Association chairman CK Jerath said, “It is for the first time that five Chandigarh boxers have entered the semifinals of the National Games. It is a big achievement for the city pugilists.”

Head coach Pankaj Chauhan, coach Neema manager NK Dureja and coach Sunil Choudhary have worked very hard with the pugilists in the run-up to the Games, the officials said.

Athletes from 28 states, eight Union Territories and the Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) are competing for medals in 32 sports.

Chandigarh has so far won five medals. Two gold medals in weightlifting and yogasana, two silver in wushu and Kabaddi and one bronze in wushu.

Vanshita wins weightlifting gold

Local weightlifter Vanshita Verma won gold in women’s 81kg category at the ongoing 38th National Games in Uttarakhand. She lifted 93 kg in snatch and 115 kg in clean and jerk. posting a total of 208 kg. Her coach Kamaldeep Singh Bansal and manager KDS Nagra expressed happiness over her victory. Wushu players Komal, competing in the 60 kg category, claimed silver and Pooja Sharma won bronze in the 65 kg category. The local kabaddi team won silver. The pair of Dev and Abhay Mishra clinched gold in yogasna (rhythmic) pair event.