GUWAHATI, May 24 - Assam pugilists including the likes of Shiva Thapa, Bhagyabati Kachari and Jamuna Boro clinched a gold medal each while Lovlina Borgohain and Ankushita Boro had to be content with the silver at the 2nd India Open International Boxing Tournament at the Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Indoor Stadium in Sarusajai here today.
On the other hand, six-time World Championship gold medallist MC Mary Kom eased past compatriot Vanlal Duati 5-0 in a unanimous verdict to snatch the gold in the 51 kg weight category. Mary was in command right from the start and didn�t let her opponent to settle down. Seasoned L Sarita Devi too had the last laugh by winning 3-2 against Simranjit Kaur although the latter gave a tough fight.
As far as the local pugilists were concerned, Jamuna was the first to take the ring and she didn�t disappoint the home fans with a 5-0 victory against Y Sandhyarani. Although her opponent preferred to go the attacking way, but the girl from Sonitpur district kept her composure and gained mostly through her counter attacks.
Four-time Asian Championships medallist Shiva didn�t make any mistake this time in getting the better of Manish Kaushik 5-0. Manish had defeated him earlier on two occasions and the experienced local boxer made best use of his skills to overcome the challenge.
Bhagyabati faced some challenge from compatriot Pooja before she clinched the 75kg gold with a 3-2 verdict in her first tournament after she switched weight category from 81kg. �This is, of course, a turning point in my career. Had I not won the gold here, my Olympic berth quest would have ended here itself,� said Bhagyabati.
However, the biggest upset of the evening for the host State was the 5-0 routing of Ankushita by Italian Francessa Amato in women�s 64kg final. The former World Youth champion, who had caused an upset by defeating better rated fellow Assam girl Pwilao Basumatary in the semifinals on Thursday, was apparently not in her best of form against the Italian pugilist.
It was yet another heartbreak for the home crowd as Lovlina Borgohain lost 2-3 to her Italian opponent Assunta Canfora. She appeared to be not in her elements and had made it to the final without facing an opponent in the ring in the tournament in the earlier rounds.
Asian Championship gold medallist Amit Panghal claimed the 52 kg gold with a 4-1 verdict against compatriot Sachin who had on Thursday caused a major upset blanking out Commonwealth Games gold medallist Gaurav Solanki 5-0 in the semifinals.
