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Marykom to spearhead Indian challenge
The two-time World Champion looks for a hat-trick of titles as she enters the 4th World Women's Boxing Championships, reports Abhishek Hore.
Buoyed by the impressive performance of Indian women boxers in international competitions over the last few years, the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) on Wednesday sought to highlight the results to reassert India’s chances at the World Championships.
The Capital will be hosting the fourth edition of the Women’s World Boxing Championships from November 17-24 at the Talkatora Stadium. Interestingly, it is the first time India would be hosting a women's world championships in any Olympic discipline.
Two-time gold medallist and a silver medallist in the previous three editions, MC Marykom will spearhead the Indian challenge and attempt to defend her title, which she won last year in Moscow.
Marykom in the 46 kg category and L Sarita Devi in the 52 kg category will lead the 13-member Indian team. The event will witness some of the world's best women boxers vying for top honours.
Russia and North Korea are favourites and are expected to give the hosts a tough fight. But, according to coach Anoop Kumar, the Indians have a more than fair chance to land at least five medals. He said Marykom’s only real threat was expected from Italy’s Tosti.
"Frankly speaking, I'm hoping for five to six medals. Marykom definitely is one of them. But for her, Italy’s Tosti could be a tough nut to crack,” he said.
Twenty-nine countries will be participating in thirteen weight categories, starting from 46 kg to 86 kg.
