Nikhat, Jaismine lead India’s gold rush

Reigning world champion Jaismine Lamboriya (67kg) and double world champion Nikhat Zareen (5lkg) shone the brightest under the dazzling psychedelics as India, egged on by avociferous home support, ended the World Boxing Cup Final with 20 medals (9 gold, 6 silver, 5 bronze) with women pocketing seven gold medals here on Thursday.

- Shantanu Srivastava

Nikhat Zareen (R) in action against Chinese Taipei's Guo Yi-Xuan during the women's 51kg final.

Among men, Sachin Siwach (60kg) and Hitesh Gulia (70kg) finished on top with Jadumani Singh (50kg), Pawan Bartwal (55kg), Abhinash Jamwal (65kg), Ankush (80kg), and Narender (90+kg) going down in the summit clash.

India had made 15 of the 20 possible finals, eight among women and seven among men, and the result comes asa shot in the arm for elite boxers who had endured a forgettable last year following a medalless run at the Paris Olympics.

India’s success, expectedly, was driven by women boxers who came into competition on the back of three gold medals at the ‘World Cup Stage ITin Astana and two gold medals at the Liverpool World Championships.