Punching above her weight?

Punching above her weight?
Pinki Rani Jangra had long played understudy to the legendary Mary Kom, but she has earned her right to fly the tricolour.

For over a decade, Indian women’s boxing was so synonymous to MC Mary Kom that the country’s hope for a medal in international tournaments began and ended with the London Olympics bronze medallist.

In these years, the 31-year-old lost only twice to an Indian opponent - first in the 2009 senior nationals and a few months ago during the Commonwealth Games trials. Both the losses incidentally came against the slightly built Pinki Rani Jangra.

While the 2009 victory went almost unnoticed, all eyes will be on Pinki in Glasgow, where women’s boxing is making an entry in the Commonwealth Games for the first time.

Competitions will be held in three weight categories with Pinki holding fort in the 51 kg class and L Sarita Devi (60kg) and Pooja Rani (75 kg) the other Indian medal hopes in the lower weight categories.

For the last couple of years, Pinki participated in the 51 kg category at the nationals, but was entered in the 48 kg division in the Asian and World championships as an under study of Mary Kom. It allowed India to win medals in both the categories.

“I am aware of the pressure (of taking Mary Kom’s place). But then, ever since I took up boxing as a career I always wanted to fight and win medals in such major events,” said the 2012 Asian championship silver medallist. The 24-year-old, who reached the 48 kg quarter-finals in the 2012 World championship, has been preparing for over a year for this opportunity, but the de-recognition and subsequent re-admission of the Indian Federation has meant that she will be low on match practice before the Games.

“I haven’t played against any of my opponents so far. But I have studied the game of most of these players and importantly they won’t have much knowledge about me,” said the confident Pinki, whose only outing in a tournament since 2012 has been an invitational meet in Serbia earlier this year.

However, instead of worrying about the lack of competitive bouts, Pinki concentrated on improving her strength and fitness for the CWG and the timely support from the Anglian Medal-Hunt for her nutrition and training has helped her make the grade.

“I am lot stronger now. In 2013, I had suffered a shoulder injury but now I am back to my best and that showed in my performance at the trials,” said Pinki, who is known for her strong defence and technical ability that allows her to score points on the counter.

Pinki and the other two boxers will be leaving for Glasgow in the next few days as women’s events starts after the men’s competition. And though they remain relatively unknown when compared to their male counterparts, a few good performances in Scotland’s largest city could catapult them to national fame.