Boxing gets back to business with Women's Nationals

A fresh start is what they would aspire for when more than 250 boxers from 31 teams vie for top honours in the National Women's Boxing Championship starting here tomorrow, ending the competition drought which stunted the sport's growth in the last four years.
This is the first major event being conducted by the recently-formed Boxing Federation of India (BFI) and is expected to give the much-needed sense of normalcy to a sport, which was ravaged by four years of administrative wranglings.
However, in what can be considered a slight dampener, established names such as Olympic bronze-medallist and five-time world champion M C Mary Kom, Asian Games bronze-medallist L Sarita Devi and Commonwealth Games bronze-medallist Pinki Jangra have pulled out for a variety of reasons.

While Sarita and Pinki have been ruled out due to injury, Mary Kom, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP now, has cited other commitments.
But both Mary and Sarita will make the trip to the city to express their support to the event.
"I really wanted to be there but then I picked up a wrist injury and was advised by doctors not to take a chance. But I am quite excited about the Championships, it is a fresh beginning for us and hopefully, things will only get better," said Pinki.

The event indeed is a fresh lease of professional life for the 271 boxers who have assembled here, given that their future seemed in limbo not so long back owing to the administrative turmoil in Indian boxing.

A new federation has taken charge now after elections in September and the boxers are hopeful that the stability will last.
Long-serving national women's coach Anoop Kumar said he is keeping his fingers crossed.
"I have come here with a lot of expectations and hope. An entire batch of boxers has suffered because of the absence of a national federation in the last four years but hopefully that dark phase is behind us now. I am excited about watching new talent at the Championships, there is no denying it's a good start," he told PTI.
"The lack of competition hurt the boxers badly and this Championships is the first step towards making up for the lost time," he added.

This is not to say that the field comprises entirely of greenhorns.
Among those who will be seen in action are former junior world champion Nikhat Zareen, who is trying to find her footing in the senior arena and is being seen as a bright prospect in the flyweight (51kg) division, which also happens to be one of three Olympic weight categories.
The 20-year-old Hyderabad girl is also a former Youth World Championships silver-medallist.
Also in fray is Sarjubala Devi (48kg), who won a silver medal in the 2014 World Championships. Like Zareen the 23-year-old Manipuri, who grew up idolising Mary Kom, is considered a promising boxer and is a two-time former national champion.

Not to forget Sonia Lather (57kg), the Haryana-girl representing the Railways Sports Promotion Board. She picked up a silver medal at the World Championships earlier this year, the lone Indian to finish on the podium at the big event this time.
The former Asian silver-medallist will be among the top contenders in her weight category.
The Boxing Federation of India is conducting the event in an indoor hall and has promised cash rewards for medal winners. Also up for grabs for the competing boxers is a place in the national camp, which will get underway after the Championships.