New Delhi
Indian boxers had an impressive performance at the inaugural U-19 World Championships in Colorado, USA, returning with a total of 17 medals on Saturday night, including four golds. Parthavi Grewal, Vanshika Goswami, and Hemant Sangwan led the medal haul by winning gold in their respective categories.
Parthavi Grewal dominated the women’s 65kg final, defeating Netherlands’ Aaliyah Hoppema with a clean 5-0 score. Vanshika Goswami also claimed gold in the +80kg category, winning against Germany’s Victoria Gatt by Referee Stops Contest (RSC) in just under two minutes. Hemant Sangwan secured the only gold for the men’s team, winning a close 4-1 split decision over USA’s Rishon Sims in the 90kg final.
Several Indian boxers earned silver medals, including Nisha (51kg), Supriya Devi Thokchom (54kg), and Kritika Wasan (80kg), who all showed resilience but fell short in their final bouts.
The strong medal count was largely due to athletes from the Khelo India program, with 11 of these athletes training at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) National Centres of Excellence (NCOE). Among them, eight train at NCOE Rohtak, highlighting the importance of these training centers.
In total, Indian boxers brought home four gold, seven silver, and six bronze medals. This achievement at the U-19 World Championships reflects the growing talent in Indian boxing and the potential of young athletes to make a mark on the global stage.
