0-5 down, gold at the end: How India boxer turned the tide to win CWG title
Indian boxer Ankush Panghal secured a gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games after a dramatic comeback victory against England's Dimeji Shittu. This win contributed to India's most successful boxing campaign in the history of the Games.
Why it matters
The victory highlights the rising prominence of Indian athletes in international boxing and the cultural significance of the Commonwealth Games for participating nations.
India's Ankush Panghal produced one of the biggest comebacks of the Commonwealth Games 2026 boxing competition, recovering from a 5-0 deficit after the opening round to defeat England's Dimeji Shittu and win the men's 80kg gold medal on Saturday.The 22-year-old from Haryana stayed calm after a tough start and fought back brilliantly to register a 4-1 split-decision victory. His gold helped India finish with its best-ever boxing campaign at the Commonwealth Games.After the win, Panghal admitted he felt the pressure after losing the first round but never stopped believing."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...
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