Bhiwani's Women Boxers Shine at Commonwealth Games, Securing Multiple Medals

Bhiwani's Boxing Legacy Continues

Bhiwani, often referred to as 'India's Cuba' due to its rich boxing tradition, has once again proven its mettle at the Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow. Local boxers, alongside others from Haryana, have achieved remarkable success, bringing home a total of four gold medals, one guaranteed silver (with the final still pending), and two bronze medals.

This year, the spotlight has been on the female boxers, who have outperformed their male peers. All four gold medals were clinched by women from Bhiwani: Preeti Pawar (54kg), Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg), and Priya Ghanghas (60kg). Additionally, Arundhati Choudhary (70kg), who hails from Rajasthan but has trained in Bhiwani, also secured gold, further solidifying the town's status as a boxing hub.

In the men's events, Sachin Siwach (60kg) from Bhiwani and Ankush Panghal from Hisar also took home gold medals. Another boxer from Haryana, Narender Berwal, earned a bronze in the 90+kg category.

Bhiwani has long been recognized as a breeding ground for boxing talent, having produced notable athletes like Olympic medalist Vijender Kumar, Akhil Kumar, Jitender Kumar, and Vikas Krishan.

Preeti Pawar showcased an impressive performance, winning her final match against Canada’s Scarlett Delgado with a decisive 5-0 score. Her father, Sombir, expressed pride, noting that Preeti had promised to return with a medal. 'She has fulfilled her promise. The gold will be celebrated at home with traditional sweets like churma and kheer,' he shared. Preeti comes from a lineage of wrestlers in Badesra village, with her father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all being renowned in the sport.

Jaismine, also a Naib Subedar in the Army, triumphed over defending champion Michaela Walsh from Northern Ireland to secure her gold. This victory was particularly meaningful as she had recently recovered from an illness before the Games. Previously, she had won bronze at the last Commonwealth Games. Sakshi Chaudhary also made her mark by defeating Ruby White from England to claim gold for India. Kamal Singh Pradhan, president of the Bhiwani Boxing Club, remarked on the impressive performance of the town's female boxers, stating, 'It’s a proud moment to witness Haryana girls, especially from Bhiwani, excel on the global boxing stage.'