IMAGE: Ritika strikes Asian gold in women’s 80+kg boxing. Photograph: Boxing Federation of India
Ritika bagged gold in the women’s 80+kg category as India finished a creditable overall fourth in the Under-22 category of the Asian Boxing Championships in Bangkok on Monday.
The Indian U-22 contingent concluded their campaign with a total of 13 medals, while the U19 group returned home with a total of 14 medals, including three gold, seven silver and four bronze.
The effort helped the U-19 side to end up at overall second in the tournament.
However, the day’s sole gold came through Ritika in the women’s 80+kg final, where she kept her composure under pressure to beat Kazakhstan’s Assel Toktassyn.
Facing a strong boxer, Ritika mixed caution with aggression to land some telling blows, bagging India’s fourth gold in the event.
In the morning session, Yatri Patel settled for a silver after losing to Khumorabonu Mamajonova of Uzbekistan in women’s 57kg, while Priya’s spirited fight against Yu Tian of China in the 60kg final ended in a narrow 2:3 loss.
Later in the day, Neeraj went down against Shavkatjon Boltaev of Uzbekistan in the men’s 75kg final.
Later, Ishan Kataria lost to Khalimjon Mamasoliev of Uzbekistan in the 90+kg gold medal clash, as both the Indian boxers secured silver.
