Alfiya Khan Pathan continues to impress, wins bronze in Serbia
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Nagpur’s Alfiya Khan Pathan continued to be a good find on the Indian boxing circuit as she clinched a bronze medal in the ongoing 3rd Nations Cup International Boxing Championship in Vrbas, Serbia, on Sunday night. India finished the tournament with four gold, four silver, and four bronze medals.
Managing to win a silver medal in the same tournament’s previous edition, India had their hopes pinned on the young pugilist. However, she could only win a bronze this time, losing to Russian boxer Vorontsova Valeriia in the 80+ kg category.
Chairman of Boxing Federation of India (BFI) selection committee, Gopal Devang had even predicted that Pathan would win a medal in Serbia. “I am sure that with time she will make all-round progress, especially in her movements and speed. As far as Serbia tour is concerned, we are expecting around nine to ten medals, including one from Alfiya,” said Devang, reported TOI.
Two weeks before coming to Serbia, Pathan had won the gold in 16th Junior Girls Maharashtra State Boxing Championship held in Uran, Raiga, which was also her seventh gold in the state championship since 2016. The inaugural Khelo India games last year also saw Alfiya winning the yellow metal and creating history to do that from Nagpur. Barring that, Pathan also has two golds, two silvers and a bronze medal in national tournaments.Â
However, India did manage to win four gold medals though Tamanna (48kg), Ambeshori Devi (57kg), Preeti Dahiya (60kg), and Priyanka (66kg), with Tamanna being adjudged Best Foreign Boxer. Among the silver medalists were Karnataka’s Anju Devi (50kg), Maharashtra’s Simran Verma (52kg), Haryana’s Manshi Dalal (75kg) and Punjab’s Tanishbir Kaur Sandhu (80kg).Â
The bronze medals were taken by Aashreya Naik (63kg), Neha (54kg), Khushi (70kg) and Alfiya Khan Pathan (+80kg) after losing their respective semifinal bouts.
