By Ravi Kant Singh, IANS
Hyderabad : P. Narjit Singh made a superb comeback in the final round to claim the 54 kg gold medal in boxing for India at the 4th Military World Games here Saturday.
The Indian, trailing through the first three rounds, used quick combination punches to beat Marcel Schinder of Germany 12-8.
The German started well and led 2-1, 5-3 and 6-5 through the first three rounds before the Indian soldier from 6/11 Gurkha Rifles showed his mettle.
Narjit drew level with a left-right combination and from then on never looked back. The crowd that had been silently praying for the home pugilist through the first three rounds erupted with joy when he finally took the lead at 8-7, with a left jab to Schinder’s head.
The German was surprised by the sudden aggression as the Indian, who was buoyed by the boisterous cheering from the stands, landed another left-right-left combination to pull away for a decisive lead.
That was enough for the lone Indian in the boxing finals to win the second gold medal for the hosts, who had opened their gold tally with the success in Enterprise Class sailing in Mumbai Friday.
Four other Indians had lost in the boxing semi-finals to be content with bronze medals — five medals being the biggest single event haul for India in any discipline at the games.