"Felt pressure after falling 5-0 behind, but fought back": Indian boxer Ankush Panghal after winning CWG gold
Glasgow, August 2
Indian boxer Ankush Panghal described his gold medal victory in the Commonwealth Games 2026 as a special achievement, saying he had to overcome early pressure after falling 5-0 behind in the first round.
He credited his fighting spirit for helping him turn the bout around and secure the win. Panghal thanked his supporters and dedicated the medal to his family and the entire nation.
Panghal ensured India's golden run continued by defeating England's Dimeji Shittu 4-1 by split decision to win the men's 80kg title.
"It feels great to have won the gold medal. But during the bout, my morale took a bit of a hit. I was down 5-0 in the first round, so I felt some pressure... but I managed to win the bout somehow. I also want to thank those who came to support me. This medal is for them... I'm dedicating the medal to my entire family and the whole of India," Panghal told ANI.
The 22-year-old from Haryana overcame a difficult opening round in which Shittu enjoyed the upper hand. The English boxer continued to attack aggressively early on, but Ankush gradually wrested control of the contest with clever movement, sharp backhand punches and disciplined defence.
Momentum swung firmly in the Indian's favour in the closing stages, while Shittu also suffered a point deduction, much to the displeasure of the home crowd. Ankush finished the stronger boxer and deservedly earned the judges' verdict to become India's seventh boxing gold medallist of the Games.
The youngster enjoyed a flawless campaign in Glasgow, recording unanimous victories over Antigua and Barbuda's Zalaan Jan, Seychelles' Jade Micock and Canada's Joshua Ofori before overcoming Shittu in the final.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The way he adjusted after the first round is what separates champions from the rest. Shittu was aggressive and even had the home crowd behind him, but Ankush's composure was remarkable. The point deduction helped, but credit to him for staying disciplined and not panicking.
These boxers from small towns in Haryana are literally carrying India's flag at international events. The focus on grassroots boxing is clearly paying off. Ankush is just 22 and already a CWG gold medallist—the future is very bright! 🥊
Fair play to Ankush, that was a gutsy performance. The point deduction was controversial as the home crowd made clear, but he boxed smartly and deserved the win on the night. No excuses from the English side—just good boxing from both athletes.
"Somehow managed to win" — no bhai, that's called fighting spirit! The way he was moving in the 2nd and 3rd rounds was superb. These Indian boxers are a different breed entirely. Dedication to the whole nation—we accept it with pride! Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
It is refreshing to see young athletes so grounded. He credited his family, his supporter and the whole nation. But let's not forget the coaches who work behind the scenes to develop such talent from zero budget. If we invested more in sports infrastructure outside cricket, imagine what we could achieve!
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