On March 26, Indian women boxers create history at the IBA World Boxing Championship 2023. India finished the tournament with the highest number of gold medals (four) after India’s illustrious pugilists Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain won two gold medals at the Indira Gandhi sports complex in Delhi.
Apart from Nikhat in the 50-Kilogram category and Lovlina in the 75-kilogram category, the other two stellar performers in the tournament were Nitu Ghanghas in the 48-Kilogram category and Saweety Boora in the 81-Kilogram category.
In the IBA World Boxing Championship as many as 324 boxers, including several Olympic medallists from 65 countries. These players participated in twelve different weight categories.
In the match organised on March 26, Nikhat beat Nguyem Thi Tam of Vietnam, she had this medal in the last year’s championship as well. Last year the IBA championship was organised in Istanbul. Apart from this she also won a gold medal at Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. She also won a gold medal at AIBA Women’s Youth and Junior Boxing Championship, in 2011.
After her spectacular win, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated Nikhat.
Congratulations to @nikhat_zareen for her spectacular victory at the World Boxing Championships and winning a Gold. She is an outstanding champion whose success has made India proud on many occasions. pic.twitter.com/PS8Sn6HbOD
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 26, 2023
Lovlina, who won bronze at Tokyo Olympics, won her maiden Worlds gold against Caitlin Parker of Australia. Earlier she won the bronze medal twice at the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, in 2018 and 2019.
Lovlina is also a recipient of the Arjun Award, she is the sixth player from Assam to receive an Arjun Award.
PM Modi also congratulated Lovlina and wrote, “Congratulations @LovlinaBorgohai for her stupendous feat at the Boxing World Championships. She showed great skill. India is delighted by her winning the Gold medal.”
Congratulations @LovlinaBorgohai for her stupendous feat at the Boxing World Championships. She showed great skill. India is delighted by her winning the Gold medal. pic.twitter.com/KjsHEozoQJ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 26, 2023
On March 25, the 2022 Commonwealth Games medallist Nitu Ghanghas and three-time Asian medallist Saweety Boora won their golds against Lutsaikhan Altantsetseg of Mongolia and China’s Wang Lina, respectively.
23-year-old Nitu Ghanghas hails from Haryana and has been two times youth champion at light flyweight category. PM Modi while congratulating her wrote, “Congratulations to @NituGhanghas333 on winning the prestigious Gold Medal in the Women’s Boxing World Championships. India is elated by her remarkable feat.”
Congratulations to@NituGhanghas333 on winning the prestigious Gold Medal in the Women's Boxing World Championships. India is elated by her remarkable feat. pic.twitter.com/sBFIR5f6eo
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 25, 2023
Saweety Boora comes from the middleweight class and hails from Hisar, Haryana. Her father Mahender Singh, a farmer, played basketball at the national level. Before IBA she won silver medal at 2014 AIBA Women’s Boxing Championship.
Saweety used to play Kabbadi at initially but switched to Boxing in 2009. PM Modi also congratulated her. As he wrote, “Exceptional performance by @saweetyboora! Proud of her for winning the Gold Medal in Women’s Boxing World Championships. Her success will inspire many upcoming athletes.”
Exceptional performance by @saweetyboora! Proud of her for winning the Gold Medal in Women's Boxing World Championships. Her success will inspire many upcoming athletes. pic.twitter.com/6gMwyXjYpX
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 25, 2023
All pugilists were rewarded with INR 82.7 lakh each in prize money for becoming World Champions.
Applauding the gold medallists, Ajay Singh, the President of the Boxing Federation of India said, “We are extremely proud of all pugilists that have scripted history with their gold medals. Securing four gold medals at home in front of such a passionate crowd is a fabulous achievement. The performances of these pugilists will undoubtedly inspire young girls from the country to win medals and elevate Indian boxing to greater heights. Everyone at BFI would like to congratulate Nikhat, Nitu, Lovlina and Saweety on their remarkable accomplishments, and we are looking forward to seeing more of the same from them in the upcoming Asian Games.”
