Former world champion woman boxer Aruna Mishra said five-time world champion M C Mary Kom, who qualified for the London Olympics, has a fair chance of winning a medal for the country.
Marriage is not a hindrance to achieve success at any level of competition provided one has a supportive family, feel pugilists of international repute.
London Olympics bronze medalist MC Mary Kom, L Sarita Devi and Pooja Rani are all set to represent India in the upcoming 12th South Asian Games 2016 to be held in Guwahati and Shillong. The trio emerged triumphant in the final round bouts of their respective weight categories during the South Asain Games Test event and Elite Women's National Boxing Selection trial held at the NEHU, SAI Special Area Games in Shillong on Friday. While five-time world champion Mary Kom beat Sarjubala Devi in the fly-weight category to claim the SAG spot, Sarita ousted a spirited Soniya in the light-weight category.
India have named a strong 10-member boxing team for the forthcoming South Asian Games to be held in Shillong from February 13 to 16.
The Indian women boxing team won two silver and three bronze medals at the Ahmet Comert Cup Boxing Tournament.
Olympic medalist MC Mary Kom, L Sarita Devi and Aruna Mishra, among others, booked their place in the final round of the South Asian Games in Shillong on Thursday. Kom overcame a spirited Nikhit Zareen, while Sarita Devi passed the Meena Kumari test. Meanwhile, Mishra emerged winner in a bout which had to be decided on the basis of two rounds after power failure in the NEHU, SAI Special Area Games venue disrupted the game. Others who made the cut are Sarjubala Devi, Soniya and Pooja Rani. Earlier, the famed MC Mary Kom was forced to come out of her comfort zone by the versatile Nikhit Zareen, who started on an impressive note.
Five-time world champion Mary Kom and her colleague Sarita Devi continued to impress the crowd with agile movements for the second day in a row, outplaying their opponents in the South Asian Games qualifiers in Shillong on Wednesday. Sarita defeated a tough opponent P Basumatary in the quarterfinal round to proceed in the South Asian Games qualifiers and test event at the NEHU, SAI Special Area Games. Mary Kom on the other hand made mincemeat of Soniya in her bout to sail into the next round. Sarjubala Devi, Aruna Mishra and Pooja Rani also beat their opponents to move ahead.
Former World Boxing champion Aruna Mishra alleged that the adverse decision against Sarita Devi has robbed her off a gold in the Asian Games, but opined the boxer should have accepted the bronze medal as it was for the nation.