As chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and “India, India” reverberated throughout the SEC centre, the tension and excitement filled the air long before Jadumani’s bout began.
The Army boxer delivered a spectacular performance, clinching a unanimous 5-0 victory with his exceptional technique, speed, and ring presence.
Having dedicated his win to the Kargil War heroes on Kargil Vijay Diwas, Jadumani reaffirmed his goal following another dominant outing.
“I wish to dedicate this victory to the Kargil heroes. My aim is to defeat everyone and bring home the gold for India,” he stated.
After a cautious start, Jadumani quickly adapted to his opponent’s rhythm and exerted total control over the match.
He consistently targeted Rehman with sharp hooks and straight punches, compelling the referee to issue a standing count in the second round after a powerful right hand.
With the result nearly assured, Jadumani confidently approached the final round, holding his ground in the center of the ring and even encouraging Rehman to strike before countering effectively with his speed and agility.
He is now just one win away from securing a medal, a feat also within reach for Preeti (54kg), who triumphed in her pre-quarterfinals match against Deborah Mtenje of Malawi by Referee Stop Contest (RSC) decision in the second round.
Preeti, a bronze medalist from the 2022 Asian Games and a gold medalist in the New Delhi World Cup last year, dominated her opponent.
The boxer from Malawi endured two standing counts, one in each round, prompting the referee to halt the contest with 47 seconds remaining in the second round. Preeti received unanimous support from all five judges in the first round.
This victory places Preeti just one step away from achieving her first Commonwealth Games medal.
In contrast, the third participant, Aditya Pratap, faced defeat in his opening round 65kg bout against Uganda’s Nuhu Batte, with a tight score of 2:3.
