Perfect 10 for India in boxing

From Our Correspondent

SHILLONG, Feb 16: It all went as scripted for Indian women pugilists who crushed any chance of a fil-day surprise beating their Sri Lankan opponents convincingly to bag all the three gold medals on offer on the closing day at the 12th South Asian Games in Shillong on Tuesday.

MC Mary Kom, L Sarita Devi and Pooja Rani clinched the yellow metal in their respective categories to make it a perfect 10 for India in boxing at the NEHU, SAI Special Area Games in Shillong.

Earlier on Monday, the Indian men had grabbed all seven gold medals on offer to set the platform for a clean sweep in the discipline.

It was none other than the famed MC Mary Kom who set the tempo for the Indians on Tuesday morning, handing over her Sri Lankan rival Anusha Dilrukshi a first round technical knockout.

Mary Kom, who entered the ring backed by a roaring crowd, was tested in the very first second by a wild swing by the Lankan in their women's fly weight category bout. Later both boxers collapsed, with Mary on top of Anusha, as the latter received an injury on the right knee.

The Lankan mustered courage to continue from there but her effort was shortlived as in the very next second she was brought down by a Mary Kom straight punch. What followed was a round 1 TKO.

Reacting to a query the Olympian said, “She was the one who challenged me before the match. I don't feel the need to comment if anyone challenges me. I am happy with the performance..deep inside, I am very positive.”

Making her comeback after a year, L Sarita Devi was brimming with energy and delivered a flurry of punches to rattle her opponent in the light weight category bout. The Lankan, however, survived to fight another round and did well to not only resist Sarita's onslaught but make a statement with a straight punch. Vidushika Prabadhi fared well in the third round too but eventually went down 0-3 to the Indian.

Sarita once again thanked the people of the country for backing her during the difficult phase after the bout.

The impressive Pooja Rani handed over a round 2 TKO to Sri Lanka's Nilanthi Andaraweer to sign things off in style for India.

Pooja was thoroughly domiting in the bout not giving the Lankan any opening. Pooja used her left hooks and jabs to perfection to rattle the Sri Lankan who could not sustain beyond round 2 thus settling for silver in the middle weight category.

India thus clinched all the gold medals on offer in boxing to add fillip to its gold rush in the 12th South Asian Games.