Amit Panghal claimed his second consecutive international gold but the celebrated MC Mary Kom had to be content with a silver in the 69th Strandja Memorial boxing tournament for men and women yesterday
MC Mary Kom
Amit Panghal claimed his second consecutive international gold but the celebrated MC Mary Kom had to be content with a silver in the 69th Strandja Memorial boxing tournament for men and women yesterday. Amit (49kg), who fetched top honours at last month's India Open, defeated Morocco's Said Mordaji to fetch the yellow metal. The Haryana boxer, 23, recovered from a sloppy start to out-manuever Mordaji, who was taller and matched the Indian in pace but eventually fell short on accuracy.
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However, Mary Kom (48kg), who came into the event in pursuit of a third consecutive gold after the Asian championships and the India Open, lost to Bulgaria's Sevda Asenova in a rather shocking decision. Also settling for a silver was Seema Poonia (+81kg), who went down to Russia's Anna Ivanova. It was a stunning result for Mary Kom, who dominated the bout against the local favourite. The Olympic bronze medal-winning Indian was the one initiating attacks and literally chased Asenova, who was content with touches and back-paddling evasively. One such chase for getting a punch across by Mary Kom led to the boxers tumbling over each other. It came as quite a surprise when the judges ruled in the Asenova's favour, leaving the Indian corner shocked.
The Indian women boxers finished the event with two silver and four bronze medals. The bronze medallists were Meena Kumari Devi (54kg), L Sarita Devi (60kg), Saweety Boora (75kg) and Bhagyabati Kachari (81kg). The bronze medallists among the men were Mohammed Hussamuddin (56kg), and Satish Kumar (+91kg).
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