By Harpal Singh Bedi
Putting up a dominating show Asian Championships silver medallist Ashish Kumar (75kg) to win his first international gold as Indian pugilists bagged eight medals ( one gold, four silver and three bronze) at Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament in Bangkok on Saturday.
Ashish Kumar was in great form and thoroughly outpunched Korea’s Kim Jinjae 5-0 for the biggest medal of his career two months after claiming a silver medal from the India Open.
On the last day, the Indians who had to settle for the silver are former world junior champion Nikhat Zareen (51kg), Asian Championships silver medallist Deepak (49kg), GeeBee Boxing silver-medallist Mohammed Hussamuddin (56kg), and India Open silver medallist Brijesh Yadav (81kg).
Strandja Cup gold medallist Nikhat, who pocketed a bronze from the Asian Championships as well as the India Open, faced a tough opponent in Asian Games gold medallist Chang Yuan. The Chinese proved too strong as she dealt the Telegana pugilist a 5-0 blow.
In 56kg, reigning India Open champion Chatchai Decha Butdee of Thailand continued his fine form to inflict a 5-0 defeat on Hussamuddin while Uzbekistan’s Mirzakhmedov Nodirjon proved a tall order for Deepak in 49kg.
In 81kg, Brijesh Yadav gave his all but lost 1-4 to Thailand’s Anawat Thongkratok amidst some vociferous support for the home hope.
Earlier, Strandja Cup silver medallist Manju Rani (48kg) failed to breach the barrier of Thailand’s former World Championships bronze medallist Chuthamat Raksat and had to be content with the bronze.
Ashish (69kg) and Bhagyabati Kachari (75kg) are the others who brought bronze for India. While Ashish succumbed to a 1-4 defeat to Thailand’s former Asian Games champion Wuttichai Masuk, Bhagyabati Kachari was outplayed 5-0 by China’s Rio Olympic bronze medallist Li Qian.
The Indian contingent’s efforts were commendable considering some of the world’s best boxers from 37 countries had participated in this tournament to test themselves ahead of the World Championships later in the year.