Last weekend, when Nitu Ghanghas and Nikhat Zareen was international champions on a glittering night time on the Indira Gandhi Stadium right here, it underlined the passing of the baton from MC Mary Kom within the ladies’s light-weight and lightweight flyweight divisions. What it additionally did used to be throw up two authentic challengers for the 51kg elegance that Mary ruled and gained the seminal Olympic bronze in, at London in 2012.
Shortly earlier than the 22-year-old Nitu’s ultimate bout in opposition to Mongolia’s Lutsaikhan Altantseg in 48kg, Indian boxing group’s prime efficiency director Bernard Dunne introduced that the gold and silver medalists in Olympic weight classes on the worlds can be entered within the continental showpiece, giving a price tag to Nikhat for this 12 months’s Asian Games in Hangzhou, China because the 50kg champion in Delhi.
He stated Nitu would be the No 2 boxer in that (51kg – light-weight) class. The lowest of the six Olympic divisions is 50kg, whilst the Asian Games pageant can be in 51kg.
“Those who win gold and silver listed below are going to be decided on for the Asian Games within the Olympic weight classes. But the rest can occur between now and the Asian Games. Injuries can occur and our No 2 and No 3 athletes wish to be able if they’re referred to as upon,” Dunne stated.
Nitu proceeded to win the general by way of a 5–0 unanimous verdict, including a maiden senior World Championships gold to her two Youth World Championships (2017, 2018) trophies. Bernard’s determination coupled with the Boxing Federation of India’s (BFI) variety coverage of depending on common exams within the nationwide camp over variety trials to select groups for main occasions have successfully ended Nitu’s probabilities for the Asian Games.
Nitu’s weight class (48kg) isn’t an Olympic or Asian Games department. The Paris Olympics can have six classes for girls (50kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, 66kg and 75kg). The Asian Games can have 5 classes (51kg, 57kg, 60kg, 69kg and 75kg). Nikhat, by way of distinctive feature of her dual international championships titles (52kg in 2022, 50kg in 2023) is a runaway favourite to constitute the rustic within the 50/51kg divisions.
Nitu although desires trials for the Asian Games slot. “I is also No 2 within the pecking order however either one of us are after one spot. It’s most effective honest {that a} variety trial is carried out. Both folks are international champions, so a correct trial to resolve the simpler boxer will have to be carried out,” she stated.
As in step with BFI’s variety coverage, trials can be carried out within the classes the place India did not have a finalist on the worlds. “I admire BFI’s coverage and choices, however I think I’m in the most efficient type of my existence. My self belief is upper than ever, my recreation has stepped forward so much and I think more potent and higher. I will’t assume of a higher time to constitute India,” the 22-year-old stated in an interview.
With a repairs weight of 50kg, leaping a weight elegance would possibly not be an issue for the 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist. “In fact, I will be more comfortable in the higher weight as I won’t have to cut weight for every competition,” stated the boxer from Haryana.
Nitu conceded that Nikhat used to be a fantastic boxer however she isn’t fazed on the prospect of a face-off in opposition to the two-time international champion.
“We have had relatively a couple of suits within the nationwide camp and I’ve by no means felt that I will’t beat her. Despite being in a better weight elegance, her punches or energy have by no means stricken me. It’ll be a super contest, she stated.