'Aggression' behind Nitu's successful run

UNTIL not so long ago, things seemed to be conspiring against Nitu Ghanghas. Coming from humble beginnings, the Haryana boxer had also faced many hurdles outside the ring after she took up the sport.

- ANMOL GURUNG

She had even contemplated quitting the sport before it could take off. But like most success stories, with the support of her family, she persevered.

Coming from the famed Bhiwani Boxing Club (BBC), her talent was unquestionable. She had ticked all the right boxes at the youth level - she's a two-time world youth champion (2017, 2018). But her transition phase from youth to senior category was far from easy, especially due to injuries (shoulder/wrist). She was out of the picture for a little over a year. She had to be patient. Now, over the last year or so, her perseverance is finally paying off. In the ongoing IBA Women's World Championships in front of her family and well-wishers in New Delhi, the 2022 Commonwealth Games winner has been one of the standouts. On Thursday, the 48kg pugilist went one step closer to history books by fighting her way into the final. The southpaw, hailing from a tiny village in Dhanana, was facing a familiar rival in Alua Balkibekova. Balkibekova, who is from Kazakhstan, had stopped her in this very event last year.