Was desperate to pay homage to Pulwama martyrs with a medal: Armyman Amit Panghal

"It hurt a little bit more because I belong to the armed forces," said Indian boxer Amit Panghal as he dedicated his gold medal at the prestigious Strandja Memorial Tournament to the CRPF personnel who lost their lives in the Pulwama terror attack.

The Asian Games gold-medallist claimed a second consecutive top finish at one of Europe's oldest boxing competitions when he out-punched Kazakhstan's Temirtas Zhussupov in the summit clash in Sofia, Bulgaria on Tuesday night. He was India's lone male boxer to grab a medal at the just-concluded edition.

Speaking to PTI on Wednesday, the 23-year-old Naib Subedar in the Indian Army said the Pulwama attack, which claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel, was on his mind through the tournament. The deadly strike took place the day the Indian boxing team left for Sofia last week.

"Main khud army se hun, dard isliye thoda zyada tha (It hurt a little bit more because I belong to the armed forces). I was desperate for a medal because I wanted to dedicate it to the heroes who lost their lives in Pulwama," Panghal said over phone.

"This was my mindset the moment I got to know of the attack after landing here."
Asked about the specific challenges that the transition would bring with it, Panghal said, "I am going to need a lot more power and it is not going to be easy but I am confident of making it happen."