Mary Kom Academy girl Sanamacha bags another gold for India in AIBA world meet

NEW DELHI: Manipur boxer T Sanamacha Chanu of MC Mary Kom Academy added another gold to India's tally as Indian women pugilists bettered the five-gold record set in Guwahati with a seven-gold haul in the AIBA World Youth Men’s and Women’s Championships at Kielce in Poland last night.

Asian Youth champion Sanamacha added the sixth gold for India when she outclassed Kazakhstan’s Dana Diday with a unanimous 5:0 in the 75kg final late last evening.

Earlier in the evening, another Manipur girl Naorem Babyrojisana Chanu bagged the gold in 51 kg category, the weight category in which the legendary Mary Kom represents India in the seniors overcoming stiff challenge from compatriot Nikhat Zareen of Telangana.

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All the women finalists -- Gitika (48kg), Babyrojisana, Poonam (57kg), Vinka (60kg), Arundhati Choudhary (69kg), Sanamacha and Alfiya Pathan (above-81kg) — registered victories and finished on the top of the podium.

Previously, Indian women had won five gold medals in the 2017 edition of Youth World Championships in Guwahati. India women’s team also finished as the No 1 team in the championship ahead of Russia with the seven gold medals.

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Gitika led the country’s dominance and provided a perfect start for the day. The Haryana boxer, who entered the final beating two-time European champion Erika Prisciandaro of Italy, knocked down local favourite Natalia Kuczewska 5:0 in the women’s 48kg final.

Poonam also hit the aggressive mode from the word go and dominated her experienced opponent Sthelyne Grosy of France. With sharp and precise punches, Poonam did not allow her opponent to score any point before clinching the facile 5:0 triumph in the final.

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Vinka (60kg) also produced a spectacular show as her power-packed punches were too strong for Kazakh boxer Zhuldyz Shayakhmetova. Referee had to stop the contest and declare the Indian winner. Rajasthan boxer Arundhati added one more gold for India when she clinched a convincing 5:0 win against Polish boxer Barbara Marcinkowska in the 69kg final.

“This has been an amazing effort from our youth boxers, especially when the players had to be confined at home for most part of last year and only make do with online training sessions. Our coaches and support staff did a stellar job despite the limitations and challenges.

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"I congratulate all the winners on this unprecedented medal haul. This achievement is a testament of the talent we have in the upcoming generation of Indian boxing,” Boxing Federation of India president Ajay Singh said about the unprecedented medal haul.