Three golds in Boxing and another in the men’s Triple Jump where India had a historic 1-2, helped them leapfrog New Zealand on the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games (CWG) medal tally to fourth place, one below their third-place finish at the previous Gold Coast Games as things stand on day 10 of the Games.
The Boxing gold rush for India on day 10 began with Nitu Ghanghas beating the host country’s Demie-Jade Rezstan 5-0 in a unanimous points decision to win gold in the women’s 48kg (Minimumweight) category, India’s 14th of the campaign. Amit Panghal in the men’s 48kg-51kg (Flyweight) division took the same 5-0 route displaying clear supremacy against another English boxer, Kiaran Macdonald. World Champion Nikhat Zareen then made it 17 golds for India beating Cary MC Naul of Northern Ireland in yet another 5-0 verdict for the Indians.
Sagar Ahlawat had have to be content with a silver medal as he lost by an unanimous 0-5 verdict against England’s Delicious Orie in the men’s over 92kg (super heavy weight) category, in what was the final bout of the Games.
In Athletic action at the Alexander Stadium, Eldhose Paul and Abdulla Aboobacker made history in the men’s Triple jump plotting an Indian 1-2 finish. Eldhose, fresh from his Athletics world championship final exploits, hopped, stepped and jumped 17.03m in his third attempt to clinch gold.
Aboobacker came close to his teammate with a 17.02m in his fifth attempt but that was the best he would go. Ja-Nhai Perinchief of Bermuda stopped an Indian clean sweep of the medals, taking bronze with a best of 16.92m as Praveen Chithravel, the third Indian in the fray, missed out to settle for fourth with 16.89m.
Sandeep Kumar made it seven medals from Athletics with a bronze in the men’s 10k walk. His effort of 38:49:21 was a personal best. Amit however finished 12th in the race.
Then it was Annu Rani’s turn in the women’s Javelin final. She won bronze, India’s eighth Athletics medal, with a throw of 60.00m. Shilpa Rani was seventh with an effort of 54.62m.
