Mary Kom, Sarita Devi to miss Senior National Boxing Championships

Mary Kom and Sarita Devi

Crowd will miss them

Big names always play their part in the successful hosting of a national event. The absence of leading lights takes away a bit of sheen from the tournament. And the upcoming Senior National Women’s Boxing Championship will experience something similar as two of the country’s women pugilists – MC Mary Kom and Laishram Sarita Devi – are all set to skip the event.

The country’s biggest women’s boxing event at the national level beginning in Raipur, Chattisgarh from October 12-16, will have to do without these big names, who would have added the much-needed luster.

Mary is recovering from a right arm injury, and probably does not want to take any chances given the fact that the World Women’s Boxing Championship is just a month away (to be held in Korea in November). Laishram Sarita Devi, who perhaps attracted more publicity for protesting the bronze in a controversial semifinal bout rather than winning it, is expected to give the event a miss as she wants to recharge her batteries before the World Women’s Boxing Championship.

The withdrawal of Mary Kom and Sarita Devi seems to be a decision taken after the Incheon Asian Games, as the Manipur Amateur Boxing Federation (MABF) had submitted the names of the two boxers for the Senior Nationals within the stipulated deadline.Another Asian Games boxing medallist –Pooja Rani – who bagged a bronze in the middleweight category (69-75 kg), is also tipped to miss this event.

Cleary, boxing lovers in Raipur will miss watching Mary Kom and Sarita Devi in action, but looking at the larger picture, the move appears to be a prudent one considering that both of them have been busy in international competitions and national camps.