Flurry of punches: The southpaw was dominant at the World championships, profitable the first three bouts after the referee stopped the contest every time. Photo credit score: Getty Images
Staunch help: Nitu’s household has stood by her from the starting, making a number of sacrifices to make sure the younger boxer might commit herself to the sport. Photo credit score: Getty Images
It is one factor to idolise six-time World champion M.C. Mary Kom and it’s one other to comply with in her footsteps to turn into a title holder. Newly topped 48kg World champion Nitu Ghanghas, who was as soon as complimented by Mary throughout the former’s days as a youth boxer, has not solely replicated certainly one of her idol’s achievements, however has additionally proved the legend’s evaluation proper.
Fighting in the lightest weight class, which generally presents a positive mixture of deft footwork, technical excellence and tactical execution, the composed Nitu manifested her new-found aggression in the not too long ago concluded World ladies’s boxing championships in Delhi.
The southpaw showcased her attacking instincts as she rained power-packed punches on her opponents and secured a uncommon hat-trick, profitable the first three bouts after the referee stopped the contest (RSC) every time, to succeed in the semifinals and guarantee herself of a medal.
The change in her strategy was fastidiously cultivated.
“Until last year, Nitu used to wait and counterattack. This year, she has become more aggressive. Now she does not wait after landing one punch on the opponent. Rather, she unleashes rapid-fire shots. That’s why she got RSC victories against some good boxers. Such a dominating win generates fear in the mind of your next opponent,” says chief National coach Bhaskar Bhatt.
Nerves of metal
The semifinal (towards two-time Asian champion Alua Balkibekova of Kazakhstan) and the last (towards double Asian bronze medallist Altantsetseg Lutsaikhan of Mongolia) had been powerful, however Nitu displayed nerves of metal and a sound gameplan to take her maiden World title in entrance of a rapturous home, together with many from her village Dhanana in the nation’s boxing manufacturing unit — Bhiwani.
It was solely apt {that a} fellow Bhiwanian, World and Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh, dropped in to congratulate the new World champion from his famed district.
“I have been boxing since 2012 and my family has been supporting me. This medal means a lot to me,” mentioned Nitu, whose father Jai Bhagwan took unpaid depart from his job at the Chandigarh Vidhan Sabha for three years to help his daughter’s coaching.
Nitu’s street to glory, from being a two-time World youth champion to being a World champion at the elite stage in lower than six years, had its share of obstacles.
First, she went off the radar when a proper shoulder difficulty in 2019 and the pandemic the following yr disrupted her coaching. But she went again to teach Jagdish Singh of the well-known Bhiwani Boxing Club (BBC) to coach alone earlier than re-entering the aggressive scene and profitable the National title in 2021.
Gold medals at the prestigious Strandja Memorial occasion and the Commonwealth Games in 2022 established Nitu as a number one boxer in 48kg. She sorted herself earlier than returning to motion for the World championships this yr.
Nitu confirmed some enchancment as she might adapt her recreation in line with her rival in the ring (evident from the mixture of assaults and counterattacks she employed towards Alua in the semifinals) on her solution to changing into India’s sixth World champion.
Bhatt, who was the chief coach of the National age group facet when Nitu claimed two World youth titles in 2017 and 2018, highlights a uncommon high quality of his ward.
A fast research
“Nitu is a fast learner and works on command. Every boxer follows directions throughout coaching, however Nitu does this even in the ring. Her eyes are at all times on the opponent and her ears open to the coaches who’re seconding.
“In my coaching career of more than three decades, I have come across many boxers. But Nitu is the only one who follows 100 per cent of the instructions during a bout,” says Bhatt.
Jagdish provides, “Nitu has come a great distance — bodily, technically and tactically. Her recreation sense, which is essential for a boxer’s development, has improved with expertise. She has been quiet, cool, devoted and disciplined.
“Her only low point came when she had the shoulder issue in 2019. But her family was very supportive. The physio she was working with and I also motivated her.”
After contributing to the nation’s four-gold haul in the World championships — its greatest efficiency in 17 years — Nitu, like every other athlete, has the ambition of competing and reaching success in the Olympics.
However, the main roadblock for her is none aside from two-time World champion Nikhat Zareen.
India’s excessive efficiency director Bernard Dunne has mentioned that the World champions in Olympic weights, Nikhat (50kg) and Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), will instantly compete in the Asian Games — a qualifying occasion for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Bhatt and Jagdish have tried to make Nitu realise the actuality.
The path forward
“We have been speaking to her about this possibility [the uncertainty around getting a ticket to the Olympic qualifier] for the last one-and-a-half to two years,” says Jagdish.
Bhatt provides, “Nikhat has given her all to reach where she is now. If Nikhat does not qualify in the Asian Games, then Nitu may get a chance. We ask Nitu to look forward. If she does not get a chance in 2024, then, I am sure, she will not let others take her spot in 2028.”
Nitu understands that the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) is the last authority on choice issues. “In case we have a selection trial, I will be prepared for that,” says Nitu.
Whether the 22-year-old will get to compete in Paris subsequent yr or not, she undoubtedly has it in her to turn into an icon of Indian ladies’s boxing.
“If Nitu stays away from injuries and distractions, no one can stop her,” predicts Bhatt, with a way of optimism.
For Nitu, her subsequent objective is reaching excellence — fine-tuning her craft so she will be able to proceed emulating Magnificent Mary.
