Stage set for young Indian pugilists
NEW DELHI: The Women’s World Boxing Championships will be an ideal opportunity for Indian youngsters to make a mark. The likes of Manisha Moun and Lovlina Borgohain are highly rated and will be looking to pack a punch in front of home crowd. Manisha was only nine when the championships were held in India the last time, in 2006. The 20-year-old 54kg boxer will open India’s campaign when she takes on Christina Cruz of USA, bronze medallist from the last edition, on Friday.
She is considered India’s most talented in women’s boxing at the moment. Manisha’s rise has been stellar and she showed her mettle by stunning world champion Dina Zholaman of Kazakhstan in the Silesian Open boxing tournament in Poland recently en route a silver medal. The success marked her as someone cut out for big things.
This World Championships will be her first big test, but Manisha remains unfazed. She car- ries a fearless attitude on the ring and smiles when she says she is under no pressure playing India’s first bout.
“I am feeling very proud that I am going to represent India in such a major event. This is an opportunity to prove myself,” says the Haryana boxer.
“It will be tough as she (Cruz) is a world championship bronze medallist and quite experienced but I am prepared.”
“I am in good form and beating the world champion in Poland has given me a lot of confidence.”
Borgohain (69kg), from Assam, won gold at the India Open and silver in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia this year. In the Commonwealth Games, she lost to eventual champion Sandy Ryan of Britain in the quarterfinals. “The 69kg is a new Olympic category and a lot of boxers have shifted to this weight category, so it will be challenging,’ said the 21-year-old Lovlina.
SARITA IN FRAY
The other Indian who will fight on Friday is the seasoned Sarita Devi in the 60kg category. The 2006 gold medallist will be up against Sandra Diana Brugger of Switzerland. Sandra, on Thursday, outpunched Huswatun Hasanah of Indonesia 5-0.
“I am fortunate that 12 years after winning a gold at home I am getting another opportunity,” said Sarita.
KOSOVO BOXER BARRED
The Olympic Council of Asia president Sheikh Ahmad Al-fahad Al-sabah has written to sports minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Thursday saying not giving visa to Kosovo boxer Donjeta Sadiku to participate in the women’s world championships could hurt India’s chances of hosting international events in future.
Drawing Rathore’s attention, Al-sabah referred to the Olympic charter and the OCA constitution that make it mandatory for host nations to provide visa to “every eligible athlete without any discrimination.”