National women's boxing: CWG bronze medallist Pinki Jangra storms into quarters

Pinki Jangra

Pinki Jangra – the country’s biggest women’s boxing hope after iconic MC Mary Kom – stormed into the quarterfinals of the Boxing India-organised Senior National Women’s Boxing Championship being played at the Balbir Juneja Indoor Stadium in Raipur, Chhatisgarh.

The 24-year-old talented Haryana pugilist, who went on to clinch the bronze medal at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games after beating Mary Kom in the national selection trials in Patiala in the 48-51kg category, did not have to break much sweat as she outclassed Sikkim's Pushpa via a technical knock-out to reach the last eight stage of the 48-51kg category fly event.

The 2012 Asian championship silver medallist – employed with Railway Sports Promotion Board – hit the straps from the outset and gradually tightened the screws as the bout wore on, turning the contest into a one-sided affair.

It may be pertinent to mention that Pinki, despite bagging a bronze at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, missed out on a berth in the Incheon Asian Games as Mary Kom prevailed over her in the national selection trials in Patiala.

The senior national women’s boxing championship assumes plenty of significance considering that the 2014 World women’s boxing championship is slated to be held in Jeju Islands, Korea in November. The Indian women’s boxing team will be picked on the basis of the performances in the ongoing senior nationals.

Another international boxer Sarjubala Devi advanced to the quarterfinals of the 45kg-48kg light fly weight category pipping Railway Sports Promotion Board’s Mamta.

All India Police’s Preeti Beniwal, whose elder sister is the wife of Indian men boxing star Akhil Kumar, also made it to the quarterfinals of the 54-57kg feather weight category getting past Andhra Pradesh's A Anna Purna.

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.