Bhopal: MC Mary Kom lived to her celebrated stature as the five-time world champion got the better of Pinki Jangra 13:9 in the final of 12th Senior Women’s National boxing Championships at Tatya Tope Stadium in Bhopal on Sunday.
In the most anticipated bout of the day, Mary Kom (51kg) took on Arafura Games gold medallist Pinki Jangra of Haryana in the summit clash of the fly weight division. While Mary was looking to avenge her 2009 National Championship loss to Pinki, the Haryana girl was hoping to add weight to her tag of ‘Giant Killer’, this time though she was up against a more aggressive and determined Mary. Both the boxers opened cautiously, measuring each other before making a move. The score was level at 1-1 after the opening round.
But with the beginning of the second round the World Champion with her calculative approach of counter attack started to increase the margin. She managed to win the second and third round with a slender lead of one point. (3:2, 4:3). In the final round she switched gears and became more offensive at the same time maintaining a steady defence. The 28-year-old went on to reclaim the national title after a three year span. It was an impressive victory for the champion, who displayed great maturity and skill to overpower Pinki.
Meanwhile, Youth World Champion Sarjubala Devi of Manipur capped of a brilliant performance claiming the National Crown in the light fly weight division. Up against local girl and National Games silver medallist Krishna Thapa, Sarjubala was down a six point deficit after the first three rounds of play. But in the final round the 18-year-old made a stunning recovery as she launched an offensive onslaught to which Thapa had no reply. The feisty boxer with her lightning fast combinations scored 14 points as opposed to Krishna’s 6. In the end she went on to claim her maiden senior national title with a 36:34 victory.
In the feather weight division, bronze medallist at the Women’s Youth World Championship, Pwilao Basumatary of Assam had to settle for a silver medal finish after losing to Mandakini Chann of AIP. Chann, a silver medallist at the 2011 National Games, gave a brilliant performance, dominating the bout throughout. In the end she won with a score of 21:11.
In the light weight category, Neetu Chahal of Haryana powered through to clinch the yellow metal as she beat Preeti Beniwal of the IABF team. Neetu, a bronze medallist at the 2011 Asian Cup boxing tournament and a National Games gold medal winner, registered a 12:5 victory to win her second National Championship gold medal.
2010 Asian games bronze medallist Kavita Goyat of Delhi successfully defended her title taking the gold in the middle weight division. The 23-year-old boxer defeated Pooja from Haryana 16:11 on points.
Haryana bagged the overall title with three gold medals, two silver and two bronze. Manipur came in second with two gold medals, asilver and a bronze while Railways finished third with two gold and three bronze medals.
