Six-time world champion MC Mary Kom and the seasoned L Sarita Devi spearheaded India’s gold rush at the second India Open boxing tournament, which concluded on Friday 24th May 2019.

Asian Games gold medalist Amit Panghal thwarted a spirited challenge from giant killer Sachin Siwach with a well-calculated display to clinch the gold by a split 4-1 verdict in the highly competitive 52kg men’s category. Overall, India swept the medals in four men’s categories (52kg, 81kg, 91kg and +91kg) and three in women’s (51kg, 57kg and 75kg) to conclude their campaign with 12 of the 18 gold medals up for grabs.

World championship medallist Sarita Devi won her first gold in three years beating Simranjit Kaur 3-2 by virtue of a split decision. Making her debut in 60kg category, Simranjit, a World Championship bronze medallist and Asian Championship silver medallist, impressed in the first round with some telling blows initially, but Sarita Devi did not lose ground and fought back with a counter-attacking display as she celebrated the win looking upwards, dedicating the gold to her mother Laishram Khomthonbi, who passed away last year. She said to have lost her father early and her mother had made her a boxer. She got emotional while she spoke about her mother who lost her battle to cancer.

Sarita Devi, who won a bronze at the Asian Championship earlier this year enrouted to her eighth medal in the continental meet, last won a gold at the 2016 South Asian Games in Shillong.

Home favourite and world championship bronze medalist Shiva Thapa avenged his last year’s semi-final defeat to defending champion Manish Kaushik to grab the 60kg gold in front of a boisterous crowd at the Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Indoor Stadium.