Sarita Devi loses at World Boxing Championships, ending Rio hopes

Laisham Sarita Devi was knocked out of the Women’s World Boxing Championships, the final Rio qualifier, in the second round on Saturday.

Laishram Sarita Devi, bronze medal winner at the 2014 Asian Games, failed to qualify for the Rio Olympics after she was knocked out of the Women’s World Boxing Championships in the second round in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Saturday.

Sarita Devi’s loss came as a double blow to India after MC Mary Kom’s Rio hopes also came to an end earlier in the day. (Reuters file photo)

Lightweight pugilist Sarita (60 kg), a former world champion, lost 0-3 to Mexican Victoria Torres.

Her loss came as a double blow to India as London Olympic bronze medal winner MC Mary Kom’s Rio hopes were also extinguished earlier in the day.

Read | Rio dream crashes: Mary Kom loses in World Championship 2nd round

The World Championships are the final qualifying competition for the Rio Games to be held from August 5-21. Only three weight categories of 51 kg, 60 kg and 75 kg are part of the women’s boxing competitions at the Olympics.

An entry into the semi-finals not only assures the boxer of a medal but also a berth for the Olympics.