Elorda Cup 2022 boxing: India’s Alfiya Pathan, Gitika win gold medals

Young Indian boxers Alfiya Pathan and Gitika helped India end the Elorda Cup 2022 on a high by winning gold medals in their respective weight categories at Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, on Monday.

Alfiya Pathan defeated the 2016 world champion Lazzat Kungeibayeva of Kazakhstan 5-0 in the women’s +81kg final. Gitika, meanwhile, got the better of compatriot Kalaivani Srinivasan in an intense 48kg final by a 4-1 margin.

"It's an amazing feeling to win a gold medal, especially against the world championships medallist," Alfiya said.

Both Alfiya Pathan and Gitika, aged 19, are reigning world youth champions and were making their senior international debuts at the inaugural Elorda Cup.

"It was a great feeling to win a gold medal in the first senior international tournament. This is a start; I want to win more medals at the senior level in international competitions," Gitika said.

However, senior Indian boxer Jamuna Boro, a world championships bronze medallist, could only manage a silver. Jamuna Boro fought well but lost to Uzbekistan’s Nigina Uktamova 5-0 in the women’s 54kg final.

The Indian contingent concluded its campaign at the Elorda Cup with 14 medals - two gold, two silver and 10 bronze. The tournament hosted boxers from India, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Cuba, China and Mongolia.

Overall, 33 Indian boxers competed in the tournament. While Indian women won 10 medals, Indian men bagged four, all bronze.

Elorda Cup boxing 2022: Indian medal winners

Women

Alfiya Pathan (+81kg) - gold

Gitika (48kg) - gold

Kalaivani Srinivasan (48kg) - silver 

Jamuna Boro (54kg) - silver

Jyoti Gulia (52kg) - bronze

Sakshi (54kg) - bronze

Sonia Lather (57kg) - bronze

Neema (63kg) - bronze

Lalita (70kg) - bronze

Babita Bisht (81kg) - bronze

Men

Kuldeep Kumar (48kg) - bronze

Ananta Chopade (54kg) - bronze

Sachin (57kg) - bronze

Jugnoo (92kg) - bronze