New Delhi: Five-time world champion MC Mary Kom and L Sarita Devi on Sunday clinched gold medals in the 6th Asian Boxing Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, helping India finish a creditable second in the overall standings.
While Mary Kom defeated current world champion and Asian Games gold medallist Ren Cancan of China 14/8 in the (51kg category), Sarita Devi (60kg) defeated Chorieva Mavzuna of Tajkistan 16-9. With two gold medals, four silver and two bronze, India finished runners-up behind China.
The other four Indians -- Pinky Jangra (48kg), Sonia Lather (54), Monica Saun (69kg) and Puja Rani (75kg) -- had to settle for silver as they lost their respective final bouts.
Jangra lost to Mongolia's Bolortuul Tumurhuyag 22-24, Lather was defeated by Ke Jia Liu of China 8-14, Saun lost to Chinese Dong Mei Wang 10-13 and Rani failed to cross the final hurdle as she lost to current world champion and Asian Games gold medallist Jinzi Li of China 8-15.
Rani had beaten the last Asian Games silver medallist from Mongolia in her quarter-final bout earlier. Mongolia settled for the third place out of 19 countries.
"All the three Olympic categories we have won the silver and gold medals, it's a major achievement," said Brid. PK Muralidharan Raja, secretary general of the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation.
The tournament has been a happy hunting ground for the Indian women pugilists. Ever since the inaugural edition in Bangkok in 2001, Indian women have consistently excelled in the tournament.
The current edition was a preparatory event for the women pugilists participating in the first and only Olympic qualifying tournament -- the AIBA World Championships -- to be held from May 9-20 in Qinhuangdao, China.
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