vanshaj: Vishwanath, Vanshaj, Devika clinch gold medals at Youth World Boxing Championships

Indian boxers Vishwanath Suresh, Vansh and Devika Ghorpade lived up to their favorite tag as they registered commanding victories to clinch gold medals at the IBA Youth Men’s and Women’s World Championships 2022 in La Nucia, Spain. Chennai-born Vishwanath won India’s first gold at the prestigious championship by defeating Ronal Suyom of Philippines without breaking a sweat in the men’s 48kg final.

Bhavna Sharma won the silver medal in the women’s 48kg category after going down 0-5 against Uzbekistan’s Gulsevar Ganieva in the opening match of the day.

Ashish (54kg) was the other Indian to end with a silver medal. He lost 1–4 against Japanese boxer Yuta Sakai in a thrilling final.

Devika, who hails from Pune, added a second gold to India’s tally by defeating England’s Lauren Mackie in the women’s 52kg final. Youth Asian champion Vanshaj ended the day on a high note for India by winning his third gold.

The confident boxer from Sonipat comfortably outclassed Georgia’s Demur Kazia in the men’s 63.5kg final.

With 11 medals, India topped the ongoing edition of the event, followed by Uzbekistan (10), Ireland (7) and Kazakhstan (7).

Around 600 boxers from 73 countries participated in this year’s championship.

India’s eight medals in the women’s category is also the most for any country.

Already having won three gold medals, Raveena (63kg) and Kirti (plus 81kg) will look to add two more yellow metals to India’s kitty in the women’s final on the last day of competition.

Raveena and Keerthi will take on Megan Decler of the Netherlands and Elizabeth D’Arcy of Ireland respectively.

Apart from three gold and two silver on the final day, India’s tally also featured four bronze medals from Tamanna (50kg), Kunjarani Devi Thongam (60kg), Muskaan (75kg) and Lashu Yadav (70kg), who advanced to the semi-finals. I was defeated.

Originally published at Pen 18