Revision as of 09:33, 23 September 2018

2018

STAN RAYAN, September 2, 2018: The Hindu

Strategic win: Some telling punches towards the end saw Amit Panghal shock Hasanboy Dusmatov with a split verdict.
From: STAN RAYAN, September 2, 2018: The Hindu

He had watched Olympic champion Hasanboy Dusmatov’s videos very closely, soaking in plenty of lessons. And when Amit Panghal met the Uzbek in the 49kg boxing final on Saturday, he knew exactly what to do.

He kept staying out of his famed opponent’s reach. A smart defensive strategy and some telling punches towards the end saw Amit shock Dusmatov with a split verdict and take the gold in his maiden Games.

The 22-year-old Armyman’s title was India’s lone gold in boxing here and only the country’s eighth in the sport at the Asiad. Vikas Krishan was the only other boxing medallist for the country here. Dusmatov had won the Val Barker Trophy — awarded to the outstanding boxer at the Olympics by AIBA — in Rio and was also the Worlds silver medallist.

The Indian was evasive and was ducking nicely and when Dusmatov could not land his punches properly, he appeared a bit desperate as the seconds ticked by.

With Amit taking the first round and the Uzbek the next, the final round became a hot affair. Amit landed a hard right to Dusmatov’s face and a little later, another hard blow on his opponent’s forehead. The Uzbek tried to throw a lethal left hook and then a right but he was only punching air as Amit stepped back just in time.

“He is a southpaw. So, we had prepared for this bout by watching a lot of his videos, studying his techniques and shortcomings,” said Amit, the son of farmer.

Uzbekistan topped with five golds while China (two golds) was second. India was fourth with a gold and a bronze.

Gold at the Asiad

Hindol Basu, No cash to replace gloves, he even trained bare-handed, September 2, 2018: The Times of India

Father Wants Boxer Son To Target Olympic Medal Now

“Throwing in the towel.” It’s a term familiar to boxers, but it doesn’t exist in Amit Panghal’s dictionary. The neversay-die spirit was ingrained in him right from childhood.

Amit, who hails from Maina village in Haryana’s Rohtak district, is the son of a farmer. His father, Vijender Singh, owns just one acre of land where he tills wheat and millet. The financial condition of the family was never healthy, as a result of which Amit’s elder brother Ajay Panghal had to give up his boxing dreams.

“Till 2011, our financial condition was very bad. The yield from our land wasn’t great. The earning was just enough to feed the family. I was also into boxing and was training under coach Anil Dhankar so that I could become an international boxer. But our family situation meant I had to quit boxing. I joined the Indian Army in 2011 at the rank of a Naib so there was a steady flow of income. But I made sure Amit didn’t quit boxing because I knew he had the potential to reach the top,” said Ajay Panghal, Amit’s elder brother.

Such was Amit’s passion and dedication towards the sport that he practised with bare hands for more than six months — his boxing gloves were in a tattered condition and he didn’t have money to buy new ones. “There was a time when Amit didn’t have boxing gloves for more than a six-month period. His old gloves were in tatters and we didn’t have the money to buy new ones, which would have cost nearly Rs 3,000. Such was his dedication that he practised with his bare hands, but didn’t give up,” remembered Ajay, adding, “Proper diet is very important for a boxer’s growth, and that is something Amit always lacked. He still managed to defeat bigger and more formidable boxers in his teens. At times, he fought bouts on an empty stomach and won. Inside the ring, he has always been technically impressive.”

Amit is a junior commissioned officer (JCO) and is ranked as Naib Subedar with the Indian Army. He started boxing in 2006. His father now wants him to focus on getting an Olympic medal. “The Asiad gold is just a stepping stone. Every sacrifice that our family has made is for an Olympic medal. The medals that he wins in between will boost his confidence, and give him the necessary experience that is required to win a medal at the Olympic stage. Winning an Olympic medal is the ultimate target, not only for him but for all of us,” said Amit’s father Vijender Singh.