'My Favourite is Paneer Jalebi': Priya Ghanghas to Celebrate Asian Games Bronze
Indian boxer Priya Ghanghas shares her plans to celebrate her maiden Asian Games bronze medal with her favourite treat, Paneer Jalebi.
Indian boxing sensation Priya Ghanghas has revealed her plans for a sweet celebration following her hard-fought bronze medal win at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. After securing a podium finish in the women's 60kg category, the young pugilist announced that she will be indulging in her absolute favourite treat: Paneer Jalebi.
This marks a delightful shift from her previous culinary promises. The 20-year-old, who famously vowed to eat Ghevar after winning gold at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, has chosen a different delicacy to mark this significant milestone in her maiden Asian Games appearance.
A Tough Battle in the Semifinals
Priya's journey to the bronze medal included a challenging semifinal encounter against China's Yang Chengyu. Despite her best efforts, the Indian boxer could not clinch the gold she was aiming for.
The bout unfolded in three intense rounds:
- Round 1: Priya attempted to use counter-punches against Yang's aggressive start. While she found some success with combinations mid-round, Yang finished strong to take the round 3-2.
- Round 2: The Chinese boxer maintained her high-pressure approach, winning the round convincingly with a 4-1 scoreline.
- Round 3: Priya struggled to penetrate Yang's solid defence, resulting in another 4-1 verdict for the Chinese opponent.
Looking Ahead to the World Championships
While the result was not the gold she envisioned, Priya remains undeterred and incredibly proud of her achievement. "I was hoping to win the gold medal. But I won the bronze medal in my first Asian Games. It is a big deal for me. I have to be satisfied with this," she stated.
The Commonwealth Games gold medallist is already focusing on her next major challenge: the World Championships in April. She acknowledged that there are areas in her game that require refinement to compete at the highest level consistently.
"I had some shortcomings. Next time, I will improve them. I will prepare for the World Championship in April. I will do better because I will face the same opponents in the future," she added with determination.
Gratitude to Support Systems
Priya expressed her desire to dedicate this maiden continental medal to the fans in India. She also highlighted the crucial role played by government support systems in her professional ascent.
Having transitioned from the Khelo India scheme to the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) core team, she credited these initiatives for providing the resources necessary to reach the podium. "They helped me a lot. That is why I am here. I won the bronze medal for my country," she concluded.