![\"CWG](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-132799340,imgsize-156252,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/commonwealth-games-2026.jpg\" "\\"Glasgow:")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBeing the first off the blocks has its advantages. It can cause the jitters too. On Saturday, Preeti Pawar was the first to start the gold medal bout of the 10 Indians who had made the boxing finals at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Friday. The Haryana boxer would have felt those butterflies in the stomach, but more than that, Preeti knew she had that sting in her punches, a familiar, happy place, that would open the door for the gold rush that followed for India after her 5-0 win in the women\u2019s 54kg final. And that\u2019s what happened. The thoughtful Preeti, who loves to sketch in her me-time, defeated Canada\u2019s Scarlett Delgado 5-0 to open India\u2019s gold account in boxing. \u201cI was not nervous, but conscious of the fact that my bout was first and the result would have an impact on my teammates. But I was also sure of winning it and giving the start that India needed,\u201d Preeti told TOI. Taking a leaf from Preeti\u2019s emphatic opener, four more Indians, Jaismine Lamboria, Sakshi Chaudhary, Priya Ghanghas and Arundhati Choudhary, won gold by clinching their respective finals. It could have been an India Perfect 10, but the promising Jadumani Singh of Manipur had to settle for silver in the men\u2019s 55kg final. There was further disappointment for Tokyo Games bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain, who had got a bye and a direct entry in the semifinals, as she lost her final 1-4 in split decision against Australia\u2019s Emma-Sue Greentree in the women\u2019s 75kg final. Preeti, who had participated at the 2024 Paris Olympics and won gold at last year\u2019s World Cup Finals, along with taking the Asian Championships top medal this year, didn\u2019t have any trouble in beating the Canadian in a unanimous decision. In the second bout, current World No. 1 and World Champion Jaismine found a tough challenger in last edition\u2019s champion Michaela Walsh of Northern Ireland. After taking the first round on a split decision, Jaismine focused on her defence and landed some clean punches to take the next two rounds unanimously and win with a 5-0 scoreline. In the men\u2019s event, Jadumani, who met a taller opponent again in Jye Dixon of Australia, struggled in making his punches land. Jadumani lost 0-5. Later, Sakshi brought the gold campaign back on track by registering a 5-0 win against England\u2019s Ruby White in the women\u2019s 51kg medal round. Priya won a tough fight with a 4-1 split decision against Canada\u2019s Marie-Bathoul Al-Ahmadieh in the women\u2019s 60kg final. The ever-smiling Arundhati didn\u2019t allow herself to get dominated by England\u2019s Chantelle Reid. The Kota boxer won gold after a 5-0 victory. In the men\u2019s 60kg bout, Namibia\u2019s Tryagain Morning Ndevelo troubled Sachin Siwach with his reflexes and attempts to take the bout after getting the judges\u2019 nod in the first round. However, the Indian fought back to claim the second round with a split decision, and the bout too with a 3-2 split verdict. In the men\u2019s 80kg final, Ankush Panghal defeated England\u2019s Dimeji Shittu 4-1 to win India\u2019s seventh gold in boxing. In the last bout, Narender Berwal lost 0-5 to England\u2019s Damar Thomas.<\/div>\n