Harpal Singh Bedi / New Delhi
Commonwealth Games winner Gaurav Solanki (52kg) and Manish Kaushik (60kg) clinched a gold medal each as Indian boxers bagged six medals at the XXXVI Feliks Stamm International Boxing Tournament in Warsaw, Poland .
The 22-year-old Solanki again displayed the form that brought him a gold medal from the Commonwealth Games and the Chemistry Cup last year as he outpunched England’s William Cawley 5-0 to earn the yellow metal.
Kaushik too showed the confidence that he had displayed last year to grab the India Open gold and the Commonwealth Games silver. Against Morocco’s Mohamed Hamout, the 23-year-old was sharp and agile and emerged 4-1 winner.
However, the defeat of Mohammed Hussamuddin in the bantamweight came as disappointment for the Indian contingent on the final day of this European tournament.
Hussamuddin (56kg), who started the 2019 season with a silver from the Gee Bee Boxing tournament, had to be content with yet another silver finish following a 1-4 defeat to Russia’s Mukhammad Shekhov despite producing a strong show throughout the bout.
Besides that, three more Indian pugilists settled for the bronze after losing their respective semi-final contests.
In 69kg, 2014 Commonwealth Games silver medallist and Arjuna awardee, Mandeep Jangra went down 0-5 to Russia’s Vadim Musaev while in 91kg, Sanjeet too lost to David Nyika of New Zealand by an identical score.
In 64kg, Ankit Khatana gave his all but was edged 2-3 by Damian Durkacz of Poland in a tight semi-final clash.
The six-day competition saw boxers from all over the world participating in 10 categories in the men’s section and in five categories in the women’s section as they gear up for the World Championships later in the year.