COVID-19 derails Indian boxers in Spanish tourney

The Indian men's boxing team's final campaign at the 35th Boxam International Tournament in Castellon, Spain was derailed by a positive COVID-19 case in the side, resulting in three withdrawals from the summit clashes.

Olympic-bound Ashish Kumar (75kg) tested positive for the virus and as a result of being his roommates, Mohammed Hussamuddin (57kg) and Sumit Sangwan (81kg) were forced to withdraw from the finals on Saturday night.

All three of them ended with silver medals which could have been gold but for the unforeseen circumstances.

"What started as a great competition has ended in an anti-climax," Indian boxing's High Performance Director Santiago Nieva said from Castellon.

Ashish is "asymptomatic and is doing fine", a federation source said.

He will serve his quarantine in Castellon for two weeks before heading back to India. Hussamuddin and Sumit have tested negative and are travelling back with the team which will land in Mumbai on Monday.

Also unable to compete in the final was veteran Satish Kumar (+91kg) due to 'sickness'.

Manish Kaushik (63kg) ended up being the sole gold medal winner for the side, beating Denmark's Nikolai Terteryan in the summit clash to complete a brilliant comeback from a knee injury which kept him out of action for a year.

mong the women, Simranjit Kaur (60kg), who is also bound for the Olympics, was forced out of her final after her semi-final opponent -- Kiria Tapia of Puerto Rico -- tested positive for the virus.

The Indian, however, has returned a negative test but was still not given the all-clear to fight in the final.

"Because of local government regulations, she could not compete," Indian women's boxing's high performance director Rafaelle Bergamasco said.

Vikas Krishan (69kg) was the only other male boxer to compete on Sunday, losing a gruelling contest to Spain's Youba Sissokho. The Indian was left with a cut above his right eye in the ferocious contest.  

In the women's draw, Pooja Rani (75kg) and Jasmine (57kg) also signed off with silver medals after being beaten by superior opponents in American Melissa Graham and Italian Irma Testa respectively.

India's campaign ended with one gold, eight silver and one bronze medal that was claimed by six-time world champion M C Mary Kom.

Boxers from 17 countries, including Russia, USA, Italy, and Kazakhstan were participating in the event.

The returning boxers will reassemble for a camp in Patiala in the next few days.