Jadumani Singh Mandengbam of India secured a dominant 5-0 victory over Sumama Rehman of Pakistan in the men’s 55kg boxing Round of 16 at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, earning a spot in the quarter-finals. The unanimous decision win on Sunday showcased Jadumani’s control throughout the bout.
This victory follows Jadumani’s strong start to the Games, where he previously defeated Aaron Cullen of Scotland in the Round of 32. Jadumani, who earned a silver medal in the 50kg division at last year’s World Boxing Cup Finals in Noida, has moved up to the 55kg category this season. He was the first Indian boxer to compete at the Glasgow Games.
Jadumani’s Path to Quarter-Finals
The opening round of the contest between Jadumani and Rehman was closely fought. Both boxers exchanged punches, with Rehman utilizing his height and reach, while Jadumani countered with quick footwork, sharp movement, and fast combinations. Judges narrowly favored Jadumani after the first round, indicating a tight contest.
The intensity increased in the second round, where Jadumani began to establish greater control. A decisive moment occurred when Jadumani scored a knockdown on Rehman, shifting the momentum in his favor. He maintained this advantage through the remainder of the fight, securing a unanimous verdict from all five judges after three rounds.
Jadumani is now set to face England’s Ellis Trowbridge in the quarter-finals on Tuesday. A win in this match would guarantee him a medal, as both losing semi-finalists in Commonwealth Games boxing receive bronze medals.
Other Indian Boxers Advance
India’s boxing contingent has seen further success in Glasgow. Lovlina Borgohain, an Olympic medallist, has already secured India’s first confirmed boxing medal of the Games. Competing in the women’s 75kg division, Lovlina received a direct bye into the semi-finals, ensuring at least a bronze medal. She is scheduled to compete in the semi-finals on July 31 against Tarona Khanum Badi Pasoni Taafaki of Tuvalu, with a place in the gold medal bout at stake.
Sachin Siwach, a prominent medal hope in the men’s 60kg division, also advanced from the Round of 32. He defeated Keoma Al-Ahmadieh of Canada with a 4-1 split decision. Siwach, who is 26 years old and from Bhiwani, Haryana, will next compete against England’s William Hewitt on Monday for a spot in the quarter-finals. These advancements mean India’s 14-member boxing team, comprising seven male and seven female boxers, remains strongly in contention across various weight categories.
Preeti Panwar Nears Medal Contention
In the women’s 54kg category, Preeti Panwar, an Asian Games bronze medallist, made a strong impression by storming into the quarter-finals. She achieved a dominant win over Deborah Mtenje of Malawi via a Referee Stop Contest (RSC) decision in the second round on Sunday.
Preeti, also from Bhiwani, had previously won a bronze at the 2022 Asian Games and a gold at the New Delhi World Cup last year. During her Round of 16 bout, the Malawi boxer received two standing counts, one in each round, leading the referee to stop the contest with 47 seconds remaining in the second round. Preeti had also received a unanimous nod from all five judges in the first round.
This victory places Preeti just one win away from securing her first Commonwealth Games medal. She is scheduled to face Nicole Clyde of Northern Ireland in the quarter-finals on Tuesday. The two boxers have a history, having trained together as sparring partners in Belfast before the Games. Clyde advanced to the quarter-finals after a unanimous decision victory against Nancy Bamfo of Ghana in her pre-quarter-final bout.
Preeti expressed her intent to perform well, stating that she used the first round to assess the ring environment before becoming more aggressive in the second. She hopes to secure a medal in the competition.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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