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Sarjubala Devi is touted as India’s next Mary Kom – the biggest women’s boxing talent to emerge from Manipur. The talented youngster showed all and sundry what she was capable of storming into the semi-finals of the light flyweight category (45-58kg) of the Boxing India-organised Monnet Steel Senior National Women’s Boxing Championship being played at the Balbir Juneja Indoor Stadium in Raipur, Chhatisgarh.
The 21-year-old Manipur lass, who shot into prominence when she won the World Youth Boxing Championship in Turkey in 2011 and later going on to win the Senior Nationals in the same weight category in the 2011 edition in Bhopal, was at her assertive best making mincemeat of Mizoram’s Vanlaldauti in a one-sided bout. Wearing the red attire, Sarjubala, who is supported by Olympic Gold Quest, hardly took her foot off the pedal before coasting home.
Another talented Indian pugilist who won gold at the 2011 World Youth Boxing Championship in Turkey - Minu Basumatary – romped into the semifinals of the light welterweight category (60-64 kg) defeating Jyoti of Karnataka. Minu who bagged a bronze at the 2012 Senior Nationals in Guwahati showed her mettle securing her semifinal passage.
Meanwhile, 2011 World Youth Boxing Championship bronze medallist Pwilao Basumatary got the better of Mizoram’s Dorothylal in the quarterfinals of the featherweight category. 2011 Senior Nationals runners-up Preeti Beniwal pipped Neelam Saini to make it to the semifinals.
Pinki Jangra put it across state-mate Ritu Grewal to enter the semifinals of the flyweight category (48-51 kg).
Two of the country’s women pugilists – MC Mary Kom and Laishram Sarita Devi – have skipped the event in order to recharge their batteries for the upcoming World Championships. Of course, it remains to be seen whether Boxing India considers them for selection for the World Championships despite their absence from the senior nationals.
