Pugilists bring laurels to Chandigarh, win two gold medals
Deepankar Sharda
Panchkula, June 13
All top officials of the UT Sports Department, including the Secretary of Sports, Director of Sports and the Joint Director of Sports, reached Tau Devi Lal Stadium to boost the morale the boxers of Chandigarh on the last day of the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) today.
The boxers performed exceptionally well by winning two gold medals and one silver medal. The officials appreciated the boxers and their coach.
Functioning without a District Sports Officer (DSO), for almost five months now, the UT Sports Department seems to be little interested in promoting their coaches. In the past, many coaches were given additional charge of DSO. However, the department failed to continue this exercise now.
The boxing coach of the Chandigarh team, who is with the UT Sports Department, is due for promotion. As per rules, his promotion was due in January and the file is under consideration for approval since then. The coach, meanwhile, refused to comment on the issue.
A win to remember
All three boxers, who are training under coach Bhagwant Singh for the past seven years, termed this achievement a memorable one. Chandigarh’s Ankit won the first gold of the day despite trailing in the first round. In the final of bantam weight (51-54 kg) category, Ankit defeated Victor Singh Shaikhom of Maharashtra 3-2. “I was sure to win the bout, but Shaikhom gave me a wakeup call in the first round itself. Nevertheless, I improved well on time,” said Ankit.
The second gold of the day came in the welter weight (63.5-67 kg) category. It was a close fight but Chandigarh’s Achal Veer Karwasra won gold by defeating Anjani Kumar of Andhra Pradesh 3-2. “I struck at the right time to put him on the back foot,” said Karwasra. Ashish Hooda had to settle for silver as he went down against Haryana’s Harshit Rathee 0-5.
“These boxers have done a tremendous job. They have set a mark for the coming generations of Chandigarh boxers,” said Bhagwant Singh.
Chandigarh finish 13th
Of 33 participating teams, the city contingent of 130 players claimed the 13th spot. The local contingent won two gold, one silver and two bronze in boxing, two gold, two silver and one bronze in gatka, two bronze in judo, one bronze in weightlifting and one bronze in cycling.
