Exclusive: ‘Maa, mere liye churma bana dena’ – CWG 2022 champion Nitu Ghanghas on being inspired by Mary Kom and what she plans to do next | Commonwealth Games 2022 News
Nitu, who hails from India’s ‘Little Cuba’ – Bhiwani, overcame British Demie-Jade Resztan 2019 World Championship bronze medalist by unanimous result 5-0 in the 48th place gold medal match kg to win the top title.
“I had to lose weight to enter this category. I am so happy that my sacrifices and hard work have paid off. All I want now is to go home and eat. churma made by my mother,” Nitu told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive video chat from Birmingham.
Image credit: ANI
The 21-year-old, competing in her first CWG, looked dominant in the final match and easily overcame the domestic favorite to take the top prize.
“I was preparing for the final. I knew I (had) won the bronze medal when I entered the semi-finals. But I don’t want to stop there. I don’t want the bronze. I don’t want the silver. I wanted a gold medal. And I’m glad I got it. Everyone remembers the gold medal,” Nitu added to TimesofIndia.com, with a big smile on his face.
MARY KOM INSPIRATION
Nitu watches videos of Indian boxing superstar MC Mary Kom’s fights and tries to learn from them. The Olympic medalist is Nitu’s inspiration.
“I just love Mary Kom’s hunger for medals and her ‘do it all’ approach. I like to give my best just like her,” the youngster added.
Nitu with Mary Kom (Image Credit: TOI Special Arrangement)
“She (Mary) is my inspiration. She is a legend and I try to learn a lot from her. I met her a few times and asked her a lot of things. She has extensive knowledge and I always listen to her very carefully,” Nitu added to TimesofIndia.com.
Mary Kom, who has 8 World Championship medals – 6 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze – won a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
Nitu too despises glory and the golden CWG is just the beginning for her.
“I just experienced the first big success of my career. I still have a long way to go. I will continue to talk to her (Mary) and will try to meet her whenever she is. He has time. I want to take a step at One Time. There are many competitions coming up and I want to win as many medals for my country as possible. That is the ultimate goal for me. “, Nitu told TimesofIndia.com from Birmingham.
Nitu (Image credit: Special arrangement TOI)
OTHER STAR FROM BHIWANI
Bhiwani in Haryana is of course synonymous with Indian boxing. Four of the five boxers who represented India at the 2000 Summer Olympics came from Bhiwani. 2008 Olympic medalist Vijender Singh completed her studies in Bhiwani and also attended university there and trained at Bhiwani Boxing Club. Nitu, the two-time world youth champion in the light flyweight division, is also from India’s ‘Little Cuba’.
Nitu stayed in Dhanana village in Bhiwani, just 17 km from Vijender’s house in Kaluwas village.
Nitu with Jagdish Singh and Vijender Singh (Image credit: TOI special arrangement)
Interestingly, Nitu is being coached by Jagdish Singh, a former National boxer, founder of Bhiwani Boxing Club and who coached Vijender to Olympic glory. Jagdish Singh has also coached other Indian boxing stars such as Akhil Kumar, Dinesh Kumar, Vikas Krishan Yadav and Kavita Chahal.
“Sir Jagdish has played a big role in my career,” Nitu said.
“I am (also) really grateful to him (Vijender Singh) and the whole nation for praying for me and blessing me. I met him (Vijender) many times when he came to the academy where I dug.” He said to me – ‘Don’t stop, this is just the beginning and you have a long way to go.’ Those words motivated me a lot”. Nitu shared more with TimesofIndia.com.
