India's Priya Ghanghas showcased exceptional resilience and tactical intelligence to fight back from an early deficit and defeat Canada's Marie-Bathoul Al-Ahmadieh by a 4-1 split decision, clinching the women's 60kg gold medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026.
The victory was a perfect reflection of Priya's trademark boxing style-calm under pressure, defensively sound and devastating on the counterattack.
How Boxing started for Priya
Hailing from Bhiwani, Haryana, India's boxing nursery, Priya's journey into the sport began almost by chance. In 2016, she watched a girl from her village leave for boxing practice and was instantly inspired. She asked her father, a farmer, to enroll her at a boxing academy in nearby Dadri. That simple decision would eventually transform her into an Asian
champion and now a Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
How Priya turned things around in CWG 2026 Final
Against the young Canadian in the final, Priya's patience was tested from the outset. Al-Ahmadieh controlled the opening exchanges with aggressive combinations and sharp movement, earning a 3-2 edge after the first round, with three judges awarding the Canadian a 10-9 round.
Rather than forcing the pace, Priya relied on the qualities that have made her one of India's brightest young boxers-her superb ring awareness, disciplined defence and precise counter-attacking ability.
She began reading Al-Ahmadieh's attacks better in the second round, stepping back to evade punches before immediately responding with clean straight shots and crisp combinations. Her improved timing disrupted the Canadian's rhythm and slowly shifted the momentum. Two judges awarded the round to Priya, while the remaining three scored it level at 9-9, setting up a dramatic final round.
With the gold medal hanging in the balance, Priya produced a championship-winning display.
Every time Al-Ahmadieh came forward, Priya answered with perfectly timed counters, combining quick footwork with accurate punching. Her ability to absorb pressure without panicking and capitalize on openings proved decisive. Four of the five judges awarded the final round to the Indian boxer as she completed a remarkable turnaround.
Her counter-attacking brilliance became the defining factor of the contest. Rather than engaging in reckless exchanges, Priya consistently punished Al-Ahmadieh's forward movement with cleaner, more effective punches, gradually convincing the judges with every passing minute.
Priya vs Al-Ahmadieh Scores in CWG 2026 Final
| Judge | Score |
|---|---|
| Judge 1 | 29-28 Priya Ghanghas |
| Judge 2 | 29-28 Priya Ghanghas |
| Judge 3 | 30-27 Priya Ghanghas |
| Judge 4 | 29-28 Priya Ghanghas |
| Judge 5 | 29-28 Marie-Bathoul Al-Ahmadieh |
