Pawar’s Path to the Final
Indian boxer Preeti Pawar has spoken about the difficulties associated with weight management for athletes, particularly the challenge of not being able to eat properly before a significant bout. Despite these struggles, Pawar stated that the process also serves as a motivator, pushing her forward in her pursuit of success. Her comments came after she secured her place in the women’s 54kg final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Pawar made history by becoming the first Indian boxer to reach a final in Glasgow. She achieved this milestone by defeating Catherine Mwape of Zambia with a dominant 5-0 victory in their semifinal match on Friday. In the upcoming gold medal bout, Pawar is set to face Scarlett Delgado of Canada, who advanced to the final after overcoming Lauren Mackie of England with a 4-1 decision in the other semifinal.
Reflecting on her performance and the challenges, Pawar stated, “It is a part of our training. It motivates us. It is a little tough because we are not able to eat food properly. But it motivates us that we are one step away from the final.”
Dominant Semifinal Performance
The boxer from Bhiwani, who previously earned a bronze medal at the Asian Games, demonstrated strong control throughout her semifinal contest against Mwape. Pawar effectively utilized her left straight and consistently landed counter-attacks after drawing her opponent forward. Her strategic approach and execution were evident from the outset of the bout.
Mwape struggled to connect with clean punches and was repeatedly caught by Pawar’s combinations. The Zambian boxer received three eight-counts during the initial two rounds of the fight, highlighting Pawar’s command of the match. The judges’ scorecards further reflected Pawar’s dominance, with all five judges awarding her a 10-8 score in the second round.
With the outcome largely decided, Mwape spent the final round attempting to evade Pawar’s relentless attacks. Pawar ultimately completed a comfortable 5-0 victory, securing her spot in the final. After her win, Pawar expressed her satisfaction, saying, “I am very happy that I have managed to do what I prepared for. I have to give my best tomorrow for the gold medal. I never take my opponents lightly, and always prepare in detail with my coaches. I am happy that I am able to implement those plans.”
Indian Boxing Success at the Games
Pawar’s advancement to the final is part of a broader success story for Indian boxing at the Commonwealth Games. Other Indian boxers have also made significant strides in their respective categories.
Jadumani secured his place in the men’s 55kg boxing final by defeating Haoseb via unanimous decision in their semifinal bout. Jadumani began his semifinal strongly, taking the opening round by impressing the judges with a powerful finish. Despite Haoseb’s aggressive start, Jadumani displayed excellent defensive skills, avoiding most incoming punches before finding his rhythm. He landed several clean blows midway through the round and concluded with a strong punch that influenced the judges’ decision, with all five awarding him the opening round.
In the final round, with the advantage secured, Jadumani adopted a composed strategy, focusing on counter-punching while Haoseb pressed for an opening. Jadumani maintained discipline, avoiding unnecessary risks, and ultimately secured a unanimous decision victory. He will now face Dixon in the gold medal bout on Friday, joining Ankush, Jaismine, and Arundhati in the boxing finals, marking a successful day for India’s boxing contingent.
Jaismine also delivered a commanding performance, earning her spot in the boxing final with a Referee Stops Contest (RSC) victory over Maselela in her semifinal. Jaismine took complete control in the second round, landing a series of powerful punches that led to a standing count for her opponent. She continued her relentless pressure, leaving Maselela little chance to recover. A second standing count followed, and with Maselela unable to withstand the sustained barrage, the referee administered a third standing count before stopping the contest. This dominant RSC victory sends Jaismine to the final, where she will compete for the gold medal.
Beyond boxing, India has also seen success in judo, with Harsh Singh clinching a gold medal in the men’s 60kg judo final. Harsh defeated Joshua Katz of Australia by Waza-Ari (10-0) on Friday, securing India’s second judo gold medal at the Games and only the country’s second-ever Commonwealth Games judo gold. Similarly, Asmita Dey also secured a gold medal in judo, delivering a calm and commanding performance to edge past her Canadian opponent in a closely contested final with a 2-1 Yuko victory. Asmita completed her campaign unbeaten, finishing atop the podium after an impressive run.
Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra is also set to compete, aiming to reclaim his Commonwealth Games title in the men’s javelin throw event at the Scotstoun Stadium on Thursday. Chopra, who won gold at the 2018 Games, missed the 2022 edition due to an injury and now returns to Glasgow with aspirations of securing his second Commonwealth Games title. Earlier, he competed at the Doha Diamond League, marking his first competition of the 2026 season after recovering from a back injury. In Doha, he registered a throw of 85.69 metres on his third attempt, moving to third in the standings at the end of round three.
Tejaswin Shankar also achieved a personal best in the men’s decathlon, throwing 39.66m in the discus to earn 658 points. Shankar, who also set a personal best in the long jump on Day 1, remained third in the overall standings as he continued his pursuit of a Commonwealth Games medal.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
