Indian boxer Pooja Rani wins gold medal at Asian Boxing Champions 2019 on Friday. The 28-year-old defeated the reigning world champion Wang Lina of China in 81kg category This is India’s second gold on the day after Amit Panghal. Asian Games champion Amit bagged gold in the 52 kg category. With back-to-back top podium finish, India’s medal tally reads 13 including 2 Gold, 4 Silver and 7 Bronze medals.
This is Pooja's first gold medal at Asian Championship after clinching Silver (2012) and Bronze (2015) in the 75 kg weight categories. Pooja had represented India at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014 in the 75 kg category. The Haryana star has also won the bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games in the 75 kg category.
News Flash: 2nd Gold medal for India in Asian Boxing Championships.
Pooja Rani upsets reigning World Champion Wang Lina in Final to win Gold (81 kg) #AsianBoxingChampiosnhips pic.twitter.com/3Nd7rHTkxy
— India_AllSports (@India_AllSports) April 26, 2019
As for Amit Panghal, who had won the Asian Games gold medal last year, defeated Korea's Kim Inkyu in a unanimous decision, thereby clinching his second gold of the year. The 2017 Asian Championships silver medallist had earlier decimated China's Jianguan Hu 4-1 to march into the summit clash.
Asian Boxing Championships Update:
India finish with 2 Gold, 4 Silver & 7 Bronze Medals overall.
Breakup:
Men's: 1G, 3S, 3B
Women's: 1G, 1S, 4B
Out of 6 Finals today featuring Indian Boxers, India won 2 Gold medals (Amit Panghal & Pooja Rani). #AsianBoxingChampionships pic.twitter.com/Nu410H2tb6
— India_AllSports (@India_AllSports) April 26, 2019
The 23-year-old, who was participating in his maiden international competition since moving up to 52kg from 49kg earlier this year, had come into the tournament on the back of a gold at the Strandja Memorial Tournament in February. However, national champion Deepak Singh and Kavinder Singh Bisht had to settle with silver medals after losing their respective finals.
While Singh lost to Nodirjon Mirzahmedov of Uzbekistan in the 49 kg category, Bisht went down fighting in the finals of the 56 kg category against current Asian Games champion Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov of Uzbekistan.
In women's event, Simranjit Kaur Baath also had to remain content with silver after losing to reigning world champion Dou Dan of China in the finals of 64 kg category. Simran had lost to the Chinese in World Championships last year in the semi-finals. (Inputs from IANS)
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 26, 2019 03:57 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).