Hisar, August 2: The village of Bhediya in Haryana is buzzing with celebrations following boxer Ankush Panghal’s gold medal win at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Competing in the men’s 80-kilogram weight category, Ankush triumphed over an English opponent, bringing pride to his nation. His parents have expressed their joy over his remarkable achievement.
Coach Pradeep Sawant remarked, “I recognized Ankush’s potential 11 years ago. We had anticipated that England and Canada would be his toughest competitors at the Commonwealth Games. Ankush had previously lost to England in the World Cup finals, but this time, we were well-prepared. He lost the first round 5-0, but we spent hours discussing strategies. Ankush executed the game plan perfectly, leading to another gold medal for our country.”
The coach further noted that Indian athletes performed exceptionally well this time. He shared that Ankush trained for two to two and a half hours in the morning and another two to three hours in the evening. Ankush followed every instruction diligently and consistently gave his best. His rigorous preparation at home has clearly paid off.
Ankush’s father mentioned, “We made sure our children ate traditional food and didn’t even serve them tea. He has a flight today, and we will welcome him upon his return. The atmosphere for sports in our village is vibrant. I have been a kabaddi player myself. Initially, Ankush was interested in kabaddi, but he later shifted his focus to boxing.”
After winning the gold medal, Ankush Panghal expressed, “I feel great. I lost the first round 5-0, which put a lot of pressure on me to win the bout. However, I had faith in myself, and it worked out. I just spoke with my father and family. Everyone is very happy and looking forward to my return home.”
Leave a Comment