New Delhi: The Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) boxers bagged 12 awards at the finals of the fifth Elite Women’s National Boxing Championship 2021, played at Hisar, Haryana, on Wednesday.
Hosted by the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) and the Haryana Boxing Sangh, the RSPB concluded the event with 5 gold, 6 silver, and 1 bronze and won medals in every category.
Haryana came second with 4 gold, 4 silver, and 1 bronze, while All India Police (Delhi) finished third with 1 gold and 2 bronze medals.
Representing the RSPB, Sonia Lather dominated the ring, defeating Manisha Moun of All India Police 5-0 in the finals of the 57-kg category. Although Jaismine Lambodia of Haryana lost the gold to RSPB’s Meena Kundu 2-3 in intense 60-kg finals, she received the best challenger award.
Other RSPB pugilists to win gold medals include Anamika Hooda (50-kg), Shiksha Narwal (54-kg), and Nandini Thakur (+81kg).
Two-time Asian champion Pooja Rani Bohra of Haryana defeated RSPB’s Nupur Sheoran by 5-0 in the finals of the 81-kg category.
Haryana boxer Nitu Ghanghas ousted World Championship silver medalist, Manju Rani of RSPB, by a majority in the 48-kg category.
Meanwhile, Nikhat Zareen of Telangana defeated Haryana’s Minakshi Rani by 4-1 to win the gold and the best performer award in the 52-kg category. World Youth Champion Arundhati Choudhary of Rajasthan ousted RSPB’s Pooja Hooda by 5-0 and secured gold in the 70-kg category.
Around 320 women boxers from 36 states and Union Territories participated in the event. Though all gold and silver medalists qualified for the National Coaching Camp, the bronze medalists will face RSPB, Haryana, and All India Police boxers in the trials.
(Avya Mathur)
