Gold for Mary Kom, Manisha wins silver in Polish boxing
NEW DELHI: The seasoned M C Mary Kom (48kg) collected her third gold medal of the year with a display of tactical brilliance while Manisha (54kg) settled for a silver in the 13th Silesian Open Boxing Tournament for women in Gliwice, Poland.
Five-time world champion Mary Kom, returning to the ring after recovering from some niggles that kept her out of the Asian Games, prevailed 5-0 against Kazakhstan’s Aigerim Kassanayeva to pick up India’s lone senior category gold at the event Saturday. The 35-year-old former Olympic bronze-medallist was in her elements against a taller opponent, displaying a brilliant counter-attacking strategy.
Manisha was next to take the ring against Ukraine’s Ivanna Krupenia. The Indian went down 2-3 even though she came across as the more aggressive of the two.
India also won four bronze medals in the senior category through former world champion L Sarita Devi (60kg), Ritu Grewal (51kg), Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) and Pooja Rani (81kg).
In the youth competition, Jyoti Gulia (51kg), India’s only boxer to have qualified for next month’s Youth Olympic Games in Argentina, was India’s lone medallist with a gold. In the junior competition though, the Indian team produced a terrific performance to signoffwith13medals — sixgold, six silver and a bronze.
BOXERS WIN 3 GOLD MEDALS IN TURKEY
NEWDELHI: Simranjit Kaur (64kg), Monika (48kg) and Bhagyabati Kachari (81kg) claimed gold medals as Indian boxers notched up an impressive seven podium finishes at the Ahmet Comert Tournament in Istanbul, Turkey.
Simranjit defeated Turkey’s Sema Caliskan to fetch the top honours. Competing in the light fly category, Monika beat Ayse Cagirer of Turkey to win the gold medal, while Bhagyabati got the better of Selma Karakoyun, who is also from the host nation, in the light heavyweight category.
BHULLAR TIED 8TH AFTER THREE ROUNDS
INCHEON: Gaganjeet Bhullar did not quite challenge for the title this weekend, but still ensured a sixth Top-10 finish in last eight starts as he signed off T-8th at the 34th Shinhan Donghae Open here on Sunday. Bhullar shot his second successive three-under 68 and finished at 11-under 273 for the week.