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DHAKA Pakistans Naimatullah clinched the bantam-weight gold medal by beating his Bhutanese opponent Sigyel on points in the final of the 11th South Asian Games boxing event at Muhammad Ali Boxing Stadium on Monday.
The 20-year-old from Quetta, displayed superb technique and punching power to grab gold. He dominated the bout throughout the three rounds to emerge a clear winner.
Naimatullah, who won the silver medal in the inaugural Shaheed Benazir Bhutto International contest last month in Karachi, won his first major event by winning in 8-nation regional competition.
However his countryman and team leader Muhammad Waseem contented with a silver medal after his Indian opponent and Asian Champion Suranjoy Singh beat him on points in the 51 kg fly-weight class.
Suranjoy landed some hard blows on the face and body of Waseem and showed consistent scoring. Waseem with reasonable experience behind him counter-attacked but failed to match his rival.
Pakistan, which won seven gold medals in 11 categories in the 2006 SAG games in Colombo 2006, ended the boxing gala with one gold, one silver and two bronze medals.
As expected fist-fighting produced heartening results for the host nation Bangladesh as they won two gold medals through Muhammad Jewel in 57 kg and Muhammad Abdul Rahim 64 kg category.
Indian ended on the top with three golds, Bangladesh with two and Pakistan was placed third on the medals table.
KARATE
Pakistan's fast rising karateka Saadi Abbas picked up silver medal in the -67kg individual kumite event after going down to Sayed Muhammad of Afghanistan at Sohowardy Indoor Gymnasium.
Saadi, who had won gold in Commonwealth Karate Championship maintained his good run in the international arena. In -60kg class Nasir Ali of Pakistan took the bronze medal.
Earlier on Sunday, Sarah Nasir of Pakistan won the gold medal in womens 55kg kumite after beating Anu Adhikari of Nepal.
