Five-time world champion pugilist MC Mary Kom failed to make the three-member women's team for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, while Beijing Olympics bronze medal winner Vijender Singh managed to make the cut for his third CWG.
Women's boxing is making its debut at the CWG, two years after its first appearance in the London Olympic Games. The Indian women boxing contingent will feature Pinki Jangra (51 kg), L Sarita Devi (60 kg) and Pooja Rani (75 kg).
Mary Kom was making a comeback after nearly two years, since winning the bronze in at the London Olympics. There were doubts about the fitness of the 31-year-old, who had undergone surgery after the birth to her third child, ahead of the first selection trials in Delhi and then in Patiala.
But the Manipuri boxer had claimed she had regained full fitness heading into the selection trials. "I have been out of the ring for quite some time and it's difficult to stage a comeback. But I have worked hard in the last one month. Hopefully things will go my way," Mary had said.
The Olympian lost a close bout to Haryana's Pinki Jangra who looked more agile and aggressive compared to Mary in the final selection trials in Patiala. "It was a close bout and I wish Pinki all the best. I hope she brings India a medal," Mary said.
Pinki, who had earlier defeated the world champion in the 2009 National Championships, called it the biggest breakthrough of her career and said she is excited to represent India in the Commonwealth in Glasgow, starting 23 July.
The Asian Championships silver medallist said she caught Mary Kom off-guard in the trials, as the champion boxer was making a comeback into the ring.
"This is the biggest breakthrough of my career. I respect Mary didi a lot, she has been an inspiration for us. I am very excited to get this opportunity and would look to make the most of it," Jangra said. "I think I beat Mary didi because I have been an active camper and she was coming back after a break. So, I managed to catch her off-guard."
The silver medallist of the 2010 Delhi CWG, Vijender, got the nod from the selectors to participate in the Glasgow games in 75 kg weight category. L Devendro Singh (49 kg), Shiva Thapa (52 kg), Mandeep Jangra (69 kg), Sumit Sangwan (81kg), Dinesh Kumar (91kg) and Praveen More (+91kg) are also a part of the Indian squad.
"The men's team has been pruned to eight because the CWG organisers have stated that since women's boxing would be making its debut in Glasgow, each country would be allowed only 11 boxers. It was left to us, which categories we wanted to leave out," a selector said.
"So we decided to take women in all three weight categories while leaving out 52kg and 60kg from the men's divisions," he added.
The Indian pugilists managed to grab three gold and four bronze medals in 2010.
