Boxing Day

You dont win bouts just by being big. You also have to have a big heart, Samota said later.

With a packed house egging him on,Samota bullied his bulkier rival over three rounds,winning 5-1. It was Indias third gold in the ring,after Suranjoy Singh 52 kg and Manoj Kumar 64 kg,and more than made up for the disappointments of Monday when four Indians lost in the semifinals.

Indian boxers have finished the competition with seven medals,two more than in Melbourne,and it shows that the sports graph in the country is only going up.

Chief coach G S Sandhu was especially thrilled that India had started doing well in the heavier categories. In order to make India a true powerhouse in boxing,in order to raise the profile of the game further,we need to have more heavyweight champions, he said. I am glad we have one in Paramjeet now. He is the best thing to have happened to Indian boxing since Vijender Singh.

For a super heavyweight,Samota is nimble-footed,and throws his punches at good speed. But what has won him two international gold in the space of eight months now is his rock-sold defence. Once Samota takes the lead,he rarely concedes it. Tonight,after giving away two points in the first round,the Trinidadian Haqq came at Samota like a man possessed but couldnt break his guard. Samota,meanwhile,scored three more from counterpunches.

People say that Indian heavyweight boxers are not world class, said the champion. I want to prove them wrong.

While Samotas gold was somewhat unexpected,Suranjoys had looked all but certain. Not just because his Kenyan rival Benson Njangiru was injured,but because the 26-year-old Manipuri had thrashed his rivals en route to the final.

I never thought it would be that easy and I am so glad that I have won a gold medal in front of my home fans. The crowd support has been just fantastic. I dedicate this medal to my parents,who could not come to see me because my mother is unwell, said the Navy boxer,nicknamed Chhota Tyson.

While it was Suranjoys seventh gold in 14 months,for Haryanas Manoj Kumar,it was a first international title. The 24-year-old from Kaithal district had come off a two-year layoff from a recurring wrist injury,and made the Games by beating Vijenders cousin Balwinder Singh Beniwal. The Olympic bronze medallist wasnt amused,and called the trials a farce.

Tonight,Vijender can take back his words. Manoj hammered Englands Bradley Saunders 11-2 in a one-sided final. It didnt help Saunders that the home fans heckled him incessantly as indeed they did every England boxer. The wounds of Vijenders defeat to Englands Anthony Ogogo are still very fresh.

I think it was my way of paying back,they the British ruled us for so long,after all, said Manoj in jest. Tonight,he ruled the ring.