Indian women’s team made a remarkable achievement by winning their seven finals at the Youth World Boxing Champions in Poland. The hunger and determination with which they achieved their goals bode well for the future of Indian women's boxing.
In Kielce, Poland, the Indian women faced opponents from powerhouses such as Russia, Uzbekistan, and European nations and showed no signs of stage fright. With the strength of their punches and calculated provocation, they held their rivals at bay.
Gitika Narwal (48kg) Naorem Babyrojisana Chanu (51kg), Poonam (57kg), Vinka (60kg), Arundhati Choudhary (69kg), T Sanamacha Chanu (75kg), and Alfiya Pathan (+81kg) all put their hearts and souls into the competition. India's highest tally at the Youth World Boxing Championships is seven gold and three bronze medals. Sachin, a male boxer, is also in the finals.
Gitika gave a perfect start with a 5-0 win over Poland’s Natalia Kuczewska in the 48kg final. She had earlier beaten Italy’s two-time European champion, Erika Prisciandaro. Poonam (57kg) defeated Sthelyne Grosy of France, also 5-0, in a display of her aggressive style. Vinka (60kg) beat Kazakhstan’s Zhuldyz Shayakhmetova. Rajasthan boxer Arundhati completed a 5-0 win against Poland’s Barbara Marcinkowska.
Sanamacha, an Asian youth champion who trains at MC Mary Kom's Imphal academy, defeated Kazakhstan's Dana Diday 5-0. Alfiya, a Nagpur teen, completed the rout with a 5-0 victory over Moldovan Daria Kozorez, the European youth champion.
“The girls were aggressive and showed intent. We have a strong base and need to focus on preparing them well for the future,” says Devarajan, who competed in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and won bronze at the 1994 Victoria Commonwealth Games.
The women's team drew a lot of attention with their results, coming in first place ahead of Russia, which took home six medals (1-2-3). Indian women had previously won five gold medals at the Guwahati edition in 2017.
“No doubt the women's team has given a very good performance. They have the best of facilities at National Boxing Academy, Rohtak, and a dedicated team of coaches and support staff, and that made the difference. They were very well prepared,” says Venkatesan Devarajan, former international boxer and a national selector, who along with Akhil Kumar, 2008 Beijing Olympics quarter-finalist, selected the team.
It will be a different ballgame for them when they move up to the seniors, as they will face a much more difficult course. The task now is to build on this success and plan for the next Olympic cycle.
Behind their outstanding performance are the tremendous efforts made in the last few years by coaches, support staff, and the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) in developing talent. Keeping the group motivated and preparing them for this competition, particularly during the lockdown period last year, was a major task for which BFI deserves praise.
“This has been an amazing effort from our youth boxers, especially when the boxers had to be confined at home for most part of the last year and make do with online training sessions. Our coaches and support staff did a stellar job despite the limitations and challenges. This achievement is a testament of the talent we have in the upcoming generation of Indian boxing,” BFI President Ajay Singh said.
“A strong youth team is a good starting point. They have shown strength and endurance and a positive frame of mind. The competition at senior international is of a very high level and they need to polish their technique, skills, and ringcraft,” he said.
