‘Top team’ India snatch four gold at Doha International Boxing

Indian contingent pose after emerging as the top team at the Doha International Boxing Tournament 2015 at Ali bin Hamad al-Attiyah Arena yesterday. PICTURES: Jayaram

By Mikhil Bhat/DohaWith as many as four gold, a silver and two bronze medals, the Indian contingent left the Doha International Boxing Tournament 2015 as the top team yesterday.On the concluding day of the competition yesterday at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena, the Indians began with a unanimous win in favour of Devendro Singh Laishram against Aldren Moreno of Philippines.“This is my first tournament in 2015 and to have won gold in my first outing is a great feeling,” the 2014 Commonwealth Games silver medallist said. “I am satisfied with my performance. I haven’t played after the Asian Games; first tournament after such a long time, it was a good experience.”While Gaurav Bidhuri had to settle for a silver against Tunisia’s Montassar Bouali in the flyweight category, Shiva Thapa (bantamweight), Manish Kaushik (light) and Manoj Kumar (light welter) gave coach Gurbaksh Singh a lot to cheer about with gold on the chests.“For the boxers who have participated after a long time, the medals will be a huge morale booster. At the same time, two of my top boxers lost. And we are talking about boxers who have won medals in Asian and Commonwealth Games. So it will be a wake-up call for them,” Singh said yesterday.Mandeep Jangra and Vikas Krishan, who had lost in their respective semifinals on Friday, took bronze medals. Thapa beat Hesham Yehia Mahmoud Abdelaal of Egypt by a split decision, while Kaushik won his first international gold medal by a 2-0 majority decision against Hamza Rabii of Morocco. Kumar, a 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, earned a unanimous win over Nico Magliquian of Philippines.Thapa elaborated on the team’s preparation ahead of the tournament. “It was a great outing for us. Our team has performed really well here. Every competition we enter, we analyse our performance, whether we win or lose. We focus on any weaknesses we may have found. We strategise accordingly for the upcoming competitions,” he said.With this win in the bag, Kumar said this will give him momentum for the upcoming competitions. “This performance gives us confidence and momentum to perform at a high level in the coming tournaments, including the Olympics. Sports Authority of India, Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ) have been supporting me and taking good care. While there are spots available, I want to enter the World Championships with a gold medal at the Asian event and then to the Olympics with another gold here at the Worlds,” he said.Mohamed Amine Meskini gave Tunisia its second gold beating Walid Said Mohamed Sedik in the welterweight final. “Look nobody can enter a tournament thinking you would win a gold medal. At least I don’t think on those lines. But I came here prepared and ready to rock,” Meskini said after the final. “Hopefully I would be back for the World Championships and somebody notices my performances. I want to keep doing this. I hope to turn pro one day. It is everything in my life. I love it.”Jordan’s two gold medals came in the two heaviest categories. Ihab al-Matboulil beat Australia’s Jason Whateley to pick up gold in the heavyweight category, while Huseein Iashatsh overcame Sri Lanka’s Lahiru Tharanga Bandara Rathnadiwak in the super heavyweight category.Whateley’s compatriot Daniel Lewis beat Iraq’s Abdulridha Waheed for gold in the middleweight category, while Egypt’s Abdelrahman Salah Orabi Abdelgawwad beat Morocco’s Mohamed Assaghir in the light heavyweight final.“The gold medal is a big achievement for us in this competition. We have had tough opponents here. Three of our boxers lost their first rounds but I managed a gold and Jason took a silver,” 21-year-old Lewis said after his final. “I was studying but now I have given everything up for boxing and I want to make it to the Olympics next year. So I want to now focus on the Oceania competition, be back here for the World Championships and qualify for Rio.”