On Sunday, Pooja Rani Bohra, the defending champion (75kg), was the only Indian woman boxer to bring home gold at the Asian Championships held in Dubai. However, not far behind was six-time world champion MC Mary Kom (51kg), bringing home silver.
The Olympic-bound Bohra, took down Uzbekistan’s Mavluda Movlonova with a clinical performance, earning her USD 10,000 for her marvellous performance. According to reports, Movlonova was unable to keep up with the intensity of Bohra’s punches.
But if that’s not all, Kom along with tournament debutants Lalbuatsaihi (64kg) and Anupama (81+kg), ended with second place finishes. All three lost tightly-contested matches and earned themselves a prize money of USD 5,000 along with the silver medals.
Kom, who is said to participate in The Olympics, went down in a split 2-3 verdict against Nazym Kyzaibay of Kazakhstan. Lalbuatsaihi lost 2-3 as well, but gave her Kazakh rival, Milana Safronova, a fight she may not forget for a while. Anupama was the last to take the ring and she managed to hold her own in a bout marred by excessive holding and clinching, but it was Kungeibayeva, who connected better for a 3-2 win.