Exclusive: 'Maa, mere liye churma bana dena' - CWG 2022 champion Nitu Ghanghas on being inspired by Mary Kom and what she plans to do next

maa, mere liye churma bana dena jab mei aungi' (Mom, please make churma for me when I return). She was holding up the medal to show her family, who couldn't take their eyes off the shiny metal that is a testament to their daughter's accomplishment. Nitu, who hails from India's 'mini Cuba' - Bhiwani, upstaged 2019 world championships bronze medallist Demie-Jade Resztan of England by a 5-0 unanimous verdict in the 48kg category gold medal match to claim the top honours. "I had to lose weight to enter this category. I am so happy that my sacrifices and hard work have paid off. All I want now is to go home and eat churma made by my mother," Nitu told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive video chat from Birmingham.

Image credit: ANIThe 21-year-old, competing in her first CWG, looked dominant through the final bout and outclassed the local favourite rather easily to claim the top prize. "I was prepared for the final. I knew I had (already) won a bronze medal when I entered the semis. But I didn't want to stop there. I didn't want bronze. I didn't want silver. I wanted a gold medal. And I am happy that I achieved it. Everyone remembers the gold medal," Nitu told TimesofIndia.com further, with a big smile on her face. MARY KOM THE INSPIRATIONNitu watches videos of Indian boxing superstar MC Mary Kom's bouts and tries to learn from them. The Olympic medallist is Nitu's inspiration. "I just love Mary Kom's hunger for medals and her 'going all out' approach. I love to go all out just like her," the youngster further said.

Nitu with Mary Kom (Image credit: TOI special arrangement)"She (Mary) has been my inspiration. She is a legend and I try to learn a lot from her. I have met her a couple of times and asked her many things. She has