CWG 2026: Preeti Pawar beats Scarlett Delgado to win Women's 54kg Boxing Gold

India's Preeti Pawar delivered a dominant display to clinch the women's 54kg boxing gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, defeating Canada's Scarlett Delgado by unanimous decision in the final. The Indian boxer controlled the contest from the opening bell, showcasing superior accuracy, composure and ring craft to secure India's first boxing gold medal of the day.Preeti dominates from the opening roundDelgado started brightly, landing a couple of early punches in an attempt to unsettle the Indian. However, Preeti quickly found her rhythm, using her trademark left hook and sharp combinations to take control of the bout. As the round progressed, the Indian connected with a series of clean punches, convincing all five judges to award her the opening round 5-0.Standing count puts Preeti in complete controlKnowing she needed a strong response, Delgado came out aggressively in the second round. But Preeti remained calm, landing accurate punches with both hands and gradually increasing the pressure. The Indian boxer repeatedly found her target with crisp right-hand shots before forcing Delgado into a standing count after a sustained attack.Her dominance was reflected on the judges' scorecards as she swept the second round 5-0, moving within touching distance of the gold medal.Unanimous victory seals Commonwealth Games goldHolding a comfortable advantage heading into the final round, Preeti never allowed Delgado an opportunity to stage a comeback. She continued to dictate the pace, landing cleaner and more effective punches while the Canadian struggled to make an impact. A strong left hook followed by a powerful right-hand shot underlined the Indian's authority in the closing stages.When the final bell rang, there was little doubt over the result as Preeti was declared the winner by unanimous decision, capping off a flawless campaign with the Commonwealth Games title.The victory handed India its first boxing gold medal of the day, with more Indian boxers still in action in the finals.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.