Bhopal: Mary Kom found no match in P. Nirosha of Andhra Pradesh as the World Champion thrashed her opponent 17-0 to enter into the semi-finals of 12th Senior Women’s National Boxing Championship here on Friday.
The 28-year-old Manipuri was at her best with her lightning fast combinations and hard hitting body blows and was leading 17 points to nil when the referee decided to spare the Andhra girl any further distress. Mary went on to secure her place in the semi-final of the fly weight division with a thumping win and at the same she sent out a strong message to her opponents in the championship.
“It was a good victory for me and I have a good rhythm going on. I am happy with the way I have been performing and hope to carry the same form into the semis and most likely the finals as well”, expressed the champion after her win.
L Sarita Devi (51kg) also advanced to the round of four in the light fly weight division. The former world champion was expected to have a tough battle for a place in the semis against Vanlal Duati of Mizoram, who won the gold medal in the 48kg division at the 2011 National Games.
But the former champion, who is playing for the All India Police team, was at her riveting best as she tore through the defence of Duati. After the opening two minutes of play the score were knotted at 1 all, but with the beginning of the next round Sarita shifted gears and started increasing the margin. She scored 6 and 7 points in the second and third rounds respectively with Duati only managing 4 in both. The final two minutes of play and Sarita launched an offensive onslaught on a worn out Duati. The 29 year old was relentless with her straight punches and jabs and won the round 12:3 and with it the bout 26:13.
In the same weight category, Pinki Jangra (51kg) of Haryana continued her purple patch as she stormed into the semi-finals. The 2010 Arafura Games gold medallist beat local boxer Nirmala Kohli, who was retired hurt after taking some heavy pounding from the Haryana girl.
The semi-final match up in the fly weight class will be one to look for as some of the top guns of women’s boxing in India will take on each other for the title of National Champion. Sarita Devi will look to defend her title when she takes on her younger rival and National Games gold medallist Pinki Jangra. Pinky would have a physiological advantage over Sarita as the last times the two boxers met at the National Games, she emerged triumphant. Sarita on the other hand would be looking to avenge that loss. Mary though is expected to have little trouble getting past Dolly Singh of West Bengal in semi-final bout. If odds are to be believed we can expect a Mary versus Sarita final.
Some of the other boxers to make the cut were, bronze medallist at the Women’s Youth World Championship Pwilao Basumatary of Assam, who doused Rinki Singh of Andhra Pradesh 36:13 on points. She will take on reigning national champion in the feather weight class Pavitra of Haryana who beat Priyanka Chaudhary of Uttarakhand.
In the middle weight division, 2010 Asian games bronze medallist Kavita Goyat of Delhi ousted Divya Clair Pinto of Maharashtra to cement her place in the penultimate round of the championship, while Arafura Games silver medallist, Meena Rani of the Railways drubbed Aneeta Rani in the light welter weight class.
