Guwahati: Manipur boxer Sarita Devi won her first gold in three years after beating Simranjit Kaur 3-2 by virtue of a split decision in the final match of the 60-kg category in the India Open International Boxing Tournament that concluded in Guwahati on Friday.
Although Kaur, who made her debut in the 60-kg category, displayed an impressive performance in the first round, Sarita Devi did not lose ground and fought back with a counter-attacking display.
It was an emotional moment for the 37-year-old Sarita Devi, who won her maiden gold in the event. She dedicated the victory to her mother Laishram Khomthonbi, who passed away last year.
“This gold belongs to my mother. I lost my dad early and my mother made me the boxer that I’m now. This gold has come after a long time. I’m missing her very much at this moment,” Sarita was quoted as saying by media reports.
Sarita Devi, who won a bronze at the Asian Championship earlier this year, added: “My mother, who was suffering from cancer, watched my world championship bouts on TV from her hospital bed. After my loss in the quarterfinals, she died within two to three days. I owe everything to her.”
