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India Open Boxing: Mary Kom, Pwilao Basumatary Strike Gold

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Ria Das
New Update
Flag bearers at Tokyo Olympics, Mary Kom

Olympic bronze medallist and five-time world champion MC Mary Kom  aced to add another gold medal to her tally. She emerged as a champion on the final day of the India Open boxing tournament. The national capital was hosting this inaugural India Open International Boxing Tournament for senior men and women from January 28 to February 1 in 2018.

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In the women's competition, Mary Kom (48kg) silenced Filipino Josie Gabuco 4-1 to secure a gold.

In fact, women won the show by picking up five gold medals after men failed to collect a complete sweep and were knocked out of the game by traditional powerhouses Cuba and Uzbekistan.

In total, India Bag 10 Medals. Assam's Pwilao Basumatary (64kg) was the first among the women to fetch a gold. The former world and Asian bronze medallist won a 3-2 game over Thailand's Sudaporn Seesondee.

The Assam boxer Pwilao is a regular face in the national camp and had clinched a gold medal at the 2015 Nation's Cup in Serbia. Hails from a small village in Kokrajhar, Pwilao have had seen several families displaced during the 2012 riots in the state. Her family is one of the victims of the violence but has since moved on.

Another Assam boxer, Lovlina Borgohain earned the welterweight (69kg) gold among women, getting the better of compatriot Pooja. L Sarita Devi (60kg) was doing fine until the opponent bettered her defence and she had to settle for a silver medal after losing to Finland’s Olympic bronze-medallist Mira Potkenon.

READ:Mary Kom Sponsors Toilets In Jamshedpur

Meanwhile, in the men’s draw, Sanjeet (91kg) picked up India’s first gold when he dominated Uzbekistan’s Sanjar Tursunov. Also, National champion Manish Kaushik (60kg) stunned the world and Asian medallist Shiva Thapa to collect his gold.

Also Read: Not ready to hang up her gloves: Remembering Mary Kom’s finest Sporting Moments

 

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