Nanao wins gold at youth worlds
Source: The Sangai Express & PTI

Imphal, November 02 2008: Yet another Manipuri sportsperson has excelled at the international level competition as Thokchom Nanao Singh punched his way to the gold medal yesterday in the inaugural AIBA World Youth Boxing Championships at Guadalajara city of Mexico.

Nanao (18) outclassed Russia's Grigoriy Nikolaychuk 15-5 .

The light fly weight Army boxer ended up being India's lone medallist in the event, where the team finished ninth overall with 15 points.

Despite being tied on points with 10th-placed Uzbekistan, India finished ahead of the Central Asian country due to a sightly better points-per-boxer average of 2.1 .

Cuba topped the medal tally with four gold, a silver and a bronze.

The traditional boxing powerhouse finished the event with 40 points and a points-per-boxer average of 3.6 .

Thokchom Nanao celebrates after winning the final bout in the 48 kg category at the Mexican city

Russia was a distant second with 32 points after winning one gold, three silver and a couple of bronze medals.

The Russians had a points-per-boxer average of 2.9. Nanao, who hails from Khoijuman in Bishnupur district defeated Grigoriy Nikolaychuk in the 48 kg category.

State's sports Minister n Biren pledged that Nanao would be appropriately honoured for the his feat under the State Sports Policy in addition assuring that the State Government would accord a well deserved welcome when the pugilist arrives home.

Soon after news of Nanao's glorious performance reached his hometown the local population bursts into celebration, conveyed Oinam Assembly Constituency's MLA Dr I Ibohalbi Singh in a congratulatory message issued to the press today.

Nanao's birthplace Khoijuman Maning Leikai falls under Oinam AC.

The legislator also announced cash award of Rs 50,000 as an encouragement in Nanao's pursuit for more glories and .

Nanao is the fourth child of Th Totobi Singh and Keinahanbi, the MLA informed while expressing hope that the State authorities would also announce financial assistance in the youngster's endeavour to bring more laurel to the country in general and Manipur in particular.

The State pugilist is also the gold medal winner in the 5th Commonwealth Boxing Championship held at England in August 2007, 41st Junior Youth National Boxing Championship held earlier this year at Nagpur, 44th Cuba International Olympic Games in July (2008) and at the recently concluded Commonwealth Youth Games, Pune.

It is informed that Nanao's triumph is the first time an Indian boxer has won a gold at the Youth Championships, formerly known as Junior World Boxing Championships.

Persistently attacking the Russian, Nanao took a 4-3 lead in the first round.

A recruit of the Army Boys Sports Company, Hyderabad in 2003 the Manipuri lad extended the lead to 10-4 in the second round before completely overpowering Nikolaychuk bronze medallist in last year's Cadet World Championship, in the final round.

Nanao cruised into the summit round defeating Beccu Jeremy of France.

He dominated Wright Robert of Scotland, Ukraine's European champion Mikoya Butsenko and Latipov Jasurbek of Uzbekistan in the earlier rounds.

The Indian boxing team of seven boxers have made an excellent impact in the World Championships by winning their preliminary bouts against their more fancied European Opponents.

However, it was only Nanao, who could manage to enter the medal round.

A total of 287 boxers from 58 countries, born in 1990-91, took part in 11 weight categories.

The Indian team is likely to arrive at New Delhi on November 4 .