Golden girl Alfiya accorded warm welcome

Nagpur, April 26

Nagpur proud Alfiya Pathan who clinched gold medal in World Youth Boxing Chanpionship at Poland and brought the laurels to the country was accorded a warm welcome when she reached the city on Monday.

Alfiya became the first female boxer from Maharashtra who has clinched gold medal in the World Youth Championshp.

After reaching New Delhi yesterday from Poland , Alfiya along with her father Akram Pathan reached Nagpur railway at around 1 pm. on Monday After her arrival city mayor Dayashankar Tiwari, NMC sports committee chairman Pramod Tabhane, sports officer Piyush Ambulkar, president of Nagpur Boxing Association Sajjad Hussain, secretary Porus Kotwal, coach Ganesh Purohit, secretary of Maharashtra Boxing Association Rakesh Tiwari, railway station manager Nagdive, Rokde and senior and junior boxing players honoured her by presenting bouquets and garlands.

The residents of Chopde lawn area Avasthi Chowk where Alfiya lives gave her warm welcome. Hordings to give her best wishes were also erected at some places in her locality.

'Missed home food, will enjoy Biryani'

After returning away for more than six months, finally Alfiya reunited with her family on Monday.

After her arrival in the city when asked what she missed during six month period Alfiya quickly said 'home food'. " I desperately missed home food. Now I will enjoy all the delicacies including my favourite biryani for next couple of days before going to boxing rink for regular practice".

She said it will take two, three days to refresh herself and once she refreshed she will immediately back into the action on boxing rink.

Alfiya was instrumental in winning record seven gold medals for India in the said championship. " It was altogether a nice feeling to win the medal for your country. I really worked hard for it under the guidance of my coaches and now I am happy that I have fulfilled their expectations from me ".

Her father Akram is also a satisfied man. Six months back he dropped Alfiya at Rohtak for national camp and since then he was in her touch on mobile. " After six months my daughter Alfiya is with us. We are really proud of her. We

will now spend some quality time with her at home", he said.