MARY & CO. AIM TO PACK A PUNCH

Guwahati: All eyes will be on six-time world champion Mary Kom as 72 Indian boxers vie for honours against 200 pugilists from 16 nations in the second edition of India Open beginning here Monday. Asian Games champion Amit Panghal and World Championship bronze medallist Shiva Thapa will be among the other top Indian boxers in the tournament which will serve as a preparatory meet for the World Championships (an Olympic qualification event) from September 7 to 21 in Yekaterinburg (men’s) and from October 3 to 13 in Ulan Ude (women’s), both in Russia. Having opted out of the Asian Championships last month in order to prepare for the World Championships, 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist Mary Kom will make her competitive debut at home in 51kg in the $70,000 five-day meet at the Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Indoor Stadium here. “Yes, of course, there are expectations from me. I feel more confident in 51kg after the last few months of rigorous training,” said the star pugilist. who had won gold in 48kg at the first edition of India Open in 2018. While Mary Kom will be India’s biggest medal hope yet again, Amit Panghal (52kg) will be looking to continue his dominance after winning the Asian Championships gold. Assam’s Shiva Thapa (60kg), who created a record by winning medals in four consecutive Asian Championships, will be aiming to impress the home crowd and so will Ankushita Boro (64kg), a gold medallist at the 2017 World Youth Championship.