Date:29/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/29/stories/2008092956591900.htm

Sport - Boxing

Sarita and Usha win gold

S. Sabanayakan

Shock defeat for Marykom

— PHOTO: RITU RAJ KONWAR

DOING THE COUNTRY PROUD: Laishram Sarita Devi prevailed over Ren Cancan of China in the light-bantam 52kg final.

GUWAHATI: Three-time World champion M.C. Marykom of India tasted one of the rarest of rare defeats in her life when she was beaten by North Korea’s Ok Jong 4-1 in the pin weight final of the fourth Asian women’s boxing championship at Sarusajai Sports Complex here on Sunday.

Aiming to win her third straight Asian title, the Indian failed to find her bearing in the contest which was controlled by Jong from the start. The North Korean, 23, showed excellent technique and footwork to keep Marykom, 25, at bay with stinging punches. The Indian’s desperate charges proved counter productive as Jong scored with quick rights to the face.

Her previous loss was in the first Asian championship in 2001 where she was beaten to silver place.

Kalpana delights

Light-fly Kalpana Chowdhury warmed the hearts of the near full-house with flurry of left-right combinations to beat Ngo Thi Phuong of Vietnam to win her maiden Asian crown. The 2005 World championship silver medallist won 10-2.

The contest that went to wire was in the light-bantam category where Indian’s Laishram Sarita Devi managed to overcome Ren Cancan of China by individual scoring method (12-10) of the five judges after the two tied 5-5 at the end of the bout.

The 26-year-old Manipur Police inspector with two Asian titles in the 54 kg weight group and one World championship gold in the 52 kg class, earned her third Asian gold with this triumph.

Nagisetty Usha picked up her maiden Asian gold medal outclassing Kazakhstan’s Zhulduzay Imanbayeva 7-1. The Railway employee from Visakhapatnam showed the same guts and counter punching ability that enabled her to oust 2006 world champion and two-time Asian champion Yun Kum Ju of North Korea in the semifinals on Saturday thus extracting a sweet revenge for her Delhi worlds defeat.

China won the team championship by winning six gold medals, two silvers and two bronze medals. The host was pushed to the third place by North Korea (4-2-3). India was third (3-6-1).

India had emerged the team winners in the last edition by picking up seven golds, two silvers and two bronze medals. Significantly, China did not participate in the meet.

The results (all finals): Pin 46kg: Ok Jong (PRK) bt M.C. Marykom (Ind) 4-1. Light-fly 48kg: Ngo Thi Phuong (Vie) lost to Kalpana Chowdhury (Ind) 2-10. Fly 50kg: Kim Hyang Ok (PRK) lost to Li Siyuan (Chn) 1-17.

Light-bantam 52kg: Ren Cancan (Chn) lost to L. Sarita Devi (Ind) 5-5 (10-12). Bantam 54kg: Zhang Qin (Chn) bt Pavitra (Ind) 9-3. Feather 57kg: Zhulduzay Imanbayeva (Kaz) lost to Nagisetty Usha (Ind) 1-7.

Light 60kg: Nguyen Thi Vui (Vie) lost to Kim Hye Yong (PRK) 2-18. Light-welter 63kg: Ma Jianxia (Chn) lost to Ri Hyon Hwa (PRK) 2-6. Welter 66kg: Kavita Goyat (Ind) lost to Ri Suk Yong (PRK) 2-9.

Light-middle 70kg: Jang Un Hui (PRK) lost to Yang Tingting (Chn) 3-11. Middle 75kg: Renu Gora (Ind) lost to Li Jinzi (Chn) 1-7; Light-heavy 80kg: Lekha K.C. (Ind) lost to Tang Jieli (Chn) 3-6. Heavy 86 kg: Zhang Lina (Chn) bt Kavita Chahal (Ind) 10-0.