Salute to Mary Kom and Sarita
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: March 27, 2012 -

World Champion Mary Kom and Laishram Sarita's triumphant return at Tulihal Airpot, Imphal on 03rd Dec 2008 - Pix :: Rishikhesh Wangkhem / Hueiyen News Service

The impressive show of MC Mary Kom and Sarita Devi, who punched their way to rain gold for India in the final bouts of their respective weight categories in the 6th Asian Women's Boxing Championship at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Sunday, has once again reaffirmed their prowess in the ring.

This is no mean achievement. The success of the two Manipur women pugilists in their new weight categories has also raised the hope of Indian women boxers' qualification for the London Olympics, 2012 scheduled to be held from July 27 to August 12 later this year.

It is for the first time that woman boxing is to make debut in the Olympics. What is even more laudable in the achievement of the two Manipuri women boxers is that fact that both of them have moved ahead in their weight categories to keep their Olympic dream alive.

Five-time AIBA World Champion and three-time Asian Champion 29-year-old Chungneijang Mary Kom moved up into the flyweight class. Her original weight was 46kg. After switching to 51 kg, she did manage to clinch an Asian Games bronze medal in 2010. But this time, 'Magnificient Mary' evaluated and proved her competency in the new weight category.

Similarly, 30-year old Laishram Sarita Devi, who is also a former AIBA World Champion, moved up into the lightweight class with her eyes firmly set on the upcoming London Olympic Games. Sarita started her career as a 57kg boxer and then came down to 54kg and 51kg. But this time she changed to 60kg and proved that her decision was correct.

Despite changing their weight categories, Sunday's bouts have shown the two Manipuri women pugilists in their best form.

In one of the best bouts of her career, Mary Kom avenged 2010 Asian Games's semi-final defeat to Ren Cancan of China, outscoring the two-time world champion 14-8 while Sarita dethroned Chorieva Mavzuna of Tajikistan 16-9 in the title clash.

With many of the good boxers in the world come from Asia, the 6th edition of the Asian Women's Boxing Championship at Ulaanbaatar has given an opportunity to the two Manipuri women boxers to assess their performances in their respective new weight categories ahead of the World championship, scheduled in the Chinese city of Qinhuangdao from May 9 to 20, which will be the Olympic qualifier for women boxers.

In the 2012 London Olympics, there will be boxing competition in 10 categories for men and three categories for women. The 10 weight categories for men range from 49 kg to Plus 91 kg while women will have competition only in Flyweight (51 kg), Lightweight (60 kg) and Middleweight (75 kg).

In the qualifier, only one boxer from each country in each weight class will be allowed to compete for a chance to represent their country. If they are place in the top eight spots, then they would qualify for the Olympic Games.

Indeed, it is going to be a tough nut to be cracked.

But we are sure that the accolade and adulation over their success in the Ulaanbaatar event is not likely to stop the two Manipuri women boxers from chasing their Olympic dreams, and this has been shown more than evidently from their resolute stand in moving up their respective weight categories but coming out with better results.