Mary Kom, L Sarita Devi win gold as India finish second

Five-time world champion MC Mary Kom and L Sarita Devi 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 medalist from Mongolia in her quarterfinal 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.

Photo: Hitesh Harisinghani