John warburton

Railways National Championships: For boxing enthusiasts, Niharika Gonella is a familiar name. And the tears rolling down her cheeks after the heart-breaking RSC loss against 2017 junior world champion Ankushita Bora of Assam in the last year’s National Games in Gujarat are fresh in everyone’s mind.

On Wednesday, Niharika, representing Goa, began her campaign in the 37th National Games with a 5-0 win over Assam’s Barbi Gogoi in the 60kg women’s category.

Fresh from winning a gold at the recently-held Railways National Championships in Bilaspur, Niharika is confident of doing an encore at the Peddem Sports Complex even though her eyes are pinned on the Paris Olympic quota in 60kg category.