New Delhi, November 23: M C Marykom today became the toast of the Nation by completing a hat-trick of world titles and helping India lift the team trophy with four gold medals at the 4th World Women's Boxing Championships.

Marykom became the first women boxer to win the world titles three years in a row after the championships were introduced in USA in 2001. Marykom outpunched European champion Steluta Duta of Romania in the 46 kg on points (22:7) and celebrated her triumph with a demonstration of Manipuri folk dance in the ring.

The diminutive pugilist first deceived Duta by letting her open the account being 0-1 down just after taking on the mat but she put the Romanian on defensive thereafter in the gripping bout.

"I am very happy.

I have no words to explain.

I had defeated Duta in the recent Venus Cup finals so I really had no problem at all," said Marykom.

L Sarita Devi (52 kg), Jenny R L (63 kg) and Lekha K C (75 kg) won the titles in their respective categories while Negisatty Usha (57 kg) had to be content with silver at the Talkatora Indoor stadium that reverberated with cheers of the home crowd.

Chhotu Laura (50 kg), Aruna Mishra (66 kg) and Renu (80kg) finished as bronze medallists for the hosts.

Russia, last year's champions, finished second with three gold and three silver medals, followed by North Korea with a tally of 2-0-1.Canada, the runners-up in 2005 edition, were fourth with one gold and two bronze.

Coach Anoop Kumar said the girls had performed beyond his expectation and they were reaping the rewards of the hard work they had put in over the last six years.

"I expected only two or three gold medals but they have really surprised me.

But it is the hard work of last six years.

And especially the last six months they are completely into the preparation," Kumar said.

Another coach Chandra Lal, overwhelmed by emotions, said "the whole credit goes to boxers.

They eat, drank and slept boxing since March.

The last two months Sarita has been on diet as she was fighting in a lower weight category".

Sarita, last year's silver medallist in 54 kg, broke the jinx of losing in the finals to claim her first world title.

The 24-year old Manipuri defeated European Championship silver medallist Viktoria Rudenko of Ukraine 24-16 in the 52 kg class as her family cheered for her.

"I had only one thing in my mind that I should not let my country down, especially when the championships is being hosted in India.

I wanted to do India proud otherwise people would have though women boxers are no good," an emotional Sarita said.

During the bout, Sarita took an early lead but the moment she left her defence open, the Ukrainian levelled the scores.

The Indian held her own with a couple of fine upper cuts and took a huge leap in the second round.

She maintained the lead till end.

Mizoram's Jenny, fighting in her third world championships, could not stop her tears as she bagged her first gold medal by thrashing Klara Svensson of Sweden in two rounds.

Jenny's right punches were just too much for the Swede to counter and the Indian also landed some long punches in her defence.

"It still feels like a dream.

I really pinched myself to make sure that it was happening to me in reality," the born-again Christian said.

Jenny revealed that Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga called up immediately after the win and informed her that she had been promoted to DSP in the state police.

"My Chief Minister called me up and said I have been promoted as DSP from the rank of inspector in the Mizo police," she said.

It was a cake walk for Lekha, who thrashed Jinzi Li of China in 75 kg but Usha ran out of steam when it mattered most after upsetting three superior boxers.

Asian gold medallist Yum Kum Ju of North Korea proved to be too good to Usha, who lost 7-17 in 57 kg.

The Kerala girl could not counter her punches with the speed as her tactics did not work today.

Ochigava Sof'ya of Russia, the last year's 52 kg world champion, reigned supreme in the 54 kg.

Sof'ya showed her class by out-boxing Poland's Karolina Michalczuk 21-2. While European Champion Aya Cissoko of France gifted herself the title beating Oleksandra Kozlan of Ukraine 66 kg division.

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