He has already scripted history but Indian boxing ace Amit Panghal (52kg) says he isn’t quite done yet as he aims for the gold in the World Championship at Yekaterinburg on Saturday.
The Asian Games and the Asian Championships gold medallist defeated Kazakhstan’s Saken Bibossinov 3-2 in the semi-finals on Friday to become the first Indian male boxer to make it to the world championships summit clash.
Awaiting the 23-year-old in the final is reigning Olympic champion Shakhobidin Zoirov of Uzbekistan. “I am obviously very happy but there is unfinished business as of now. I have worked really hard and I would like to ensure that I get the best prize,” Panghal was quoted as saying by PTI.
“The guy I fought today was taller but he didn’t have the kind of power that I have. My opponent tomorrow is an unknown entity to me. I haven’t fought him before. I will rely on old videos to figure him out,” he said.
Panghal has been nothing short of phenomenal ever since he made his India breakthrough with an Asian Championship bronze back in 2017. He became the champion in that event this year.
He was a quarter-finalist in the World Championships the last time around and is now one win away from being a champion here too.
He had changed his weight category to 52kg a few months ago this year after 49kg was dropped from the Olympic roster.
“I have adjusted alright. Power was the key issue and I have added that to my punches. I am going in the right direction but not quite there yet but I will make it eventually,” he said.
He is also India’s only boxer to claim consecutive gold medals in one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious tournaments – the Strandja Memorial. The pint-sized dynamo from Rohtak, who is a Naib Subedar in the Indian Army, said he has worked hard and will continue to do so.
“I feel lucky and blessed to have achieved so much but also I have worked very hard for all of this,” he said.