Power was key issue while shifting weight categories, says Amit Phangal
Getty
Ace Indian boxer Amit Phangal has revealed that retaining is power was the key concern for him when he was shifting his category from 53kg to 49kg, and that he has dealt with it quite well. Phangal has also admitted that he knew very little about his final opponent Shakhobidin Zoirov of Uzbekistan.
Phangal would be, without a doubt, India’s biggest hope at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 especially after the phenomenal success he has had over the last few years. The only Indian to win consecutive gold medals in the Strandja Memorial - one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious tournaments – Phangal had debuted back in Asiad 2017.
He had won a bronze medal back then and changed it into a goal in the last edition. Apart from that, he was also the quarter-finalist in the World Championships the last time around and is now standing just one win away from being a champion. However, it was his shift in weight category that had got fans worried ahead of the Olympics.
Phangal, however, has quashed all such doubts stating that he has dealt with it quite well. “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, reported PTI.
“I feel lucky and blessed to have achieved so much but also I have worked very hard for all of this,” he added.
The Asian Games and the Asian Championships gold medallist got the better of Kazakhstan’s Saken Bibossinov 3-2 in the semi-finals on Friday but has decided not to rest on his laurels before his summit clash at Yekaterinburg on Saturday. Phangal would be up against reigning Olympic champion Zoirov, someone whom he hasn’t faced before.
“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. 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 added. Â
