India's Jadumani Singh delivered a statement performance against Pakistan's Sumama Rehman at the Commonwealth Games on Sunday, beating his opponent 5-0 in a high-voltage bout and dedicating the victory to the heroes of the Kargil War.
With chants of "Bharat Mata ki Jai" and "India, India" ringing around the SEC Centre in Glasgow, the Army boxer produced a composed and technically superior performance to book his place in the quarterfinals.
Jadumani had the crowd behind him even before the opening bell, but once the bout began, he let his boxing do the talking.
The Indian was watchful in the opening round as he looked to understand Rehman's rhythm. Once he had figured out his opponent, Jadumani began finding his range with sharp hooks and straight punches.
His speed and movement repeatedly troubled Rehman, who was handed a standing count in the second round after Jadumani landed a stinging right hand.
With the contest firmly under his control, Jadumani remained composed in the final round. He stood his ground in the centre of the ring, even inviting Rehman to come forward before using his superior speed to counter and move away.
The judges were unanimous in their verdict, handing Jadumani a 5-0 victory.
The win came on Kargil Vijay Diwas, making the moment even more significant for the Indian boxer.
"I want to dedicate this win to Kargil heroes. I want to defeat everyone and get gold for India," Jadumani said after the bout.
Jadumani is now just one victory away from securing a Commonwealth Games medal.
Asian Games bronze medallist Preeti Pawar also advanced to the quarterfinals, making light work of her pre-quarterfinal opponent Deborah Mtenje of Malawi. Preeti won by Referee Stop Contest (RSC) in the second round.
For Jadumani, however, the night belonged to a victory over Pakistan, a packed arena and a tribute to the soldiers he wanted to honour.
Source: India Today