New-found aggression does the trick for Nitu Premium

The 22-year-old rained punches on her rivals at the World championships on her way to being crowned the 48kg champion. What makes her so good and what does the future hold for her?

It is one thing to idolise six-time World champion M.C. Mary Kom and it’s another to follow in her footsteps to become a title holder. Newly crowned 48kg World champion Nitu Ghanghas, who was once complimented by Mary during the former’s days as a youth boxer, has not only replicated one of her idol’s achievements, but has also proved the legend’s assessment right.

Fighting in the lightest weight class, which typically presents a fine combination of deft footwork, technical excellence and tactical execution, the composed Nitu manifested her new-found aggression in the recently concluded World women’s boxing championships in Delhi.

The southpaw showcased her attacking instincts as she rained power-packed punches on her opponents and secured a rare hat-trick, winning the first three bouts after the referee stopped the contest (RSC) each time, to reach the semifinals and assure herself of a medal.

The change in her approach was carefully 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.

The semifinal (against two-time Asian champion Alua Balkibekova of Kazakhstan) and the final (against double Asian bronze medallist Altantsetseg Lutsaikhan of Mongolia) were tough, but Nitu displayed nerves of steel and a sound gameplan to take her maiden World title in front of a rapturous house, including many from her village Dhanana in the country’s boxing factory — Bhiwani.

It was only apt that a fellow Bhiwanian, World and Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh, dropped in to congratulate the new World champion from his famed district.