Mary Kom pips Pinki to make squad

New Delhi, March 15
Five-time world champion MC Mary Kom (51kg) pipped arch-rival Pinki Jangra to make the boxing squad for the Asia/Oceania Olympics Qualifying event in China from March 23.
World Championships bronze medallist Shiva Thapa (56kg) expectedly made the cut in a star-studded squad announced today. The squad for the event to be held in Qian’an was picked after selection trials conducted on March 7-8 in Patiala.
There were no surprises as London Olympics bronze medallist Mary Kom once again managed to get the selectors’ nod over Pinki.
Asian Games bronze medallist L Sarita Devi (60kg) was the other prominent name in the three-member women’s squad that also featured Pooja Rani (75kg).
The men’s squad was also on the expected lines with Thapa, who injured himself during the trials, getting the nod. The 22-year-old had missed a chance to qualify for the Olympics when he lost in the quota box-off after winning the bronze medal in last year’s World Championships.
Commonwealth Games silver medallists L Devendro Singh (49kg) and Mandeep Jangra (69kg) are among the prominent contenders for a quota place along with Asian Games silver medallist Vikas Krishan (75kg).
In all the weight categories, the top three boxers in the men’s category and the top two in the women’s category will qualify for the Olympics.
In all, 30 men’s slots and six women’s slots will be filled at these qualifiers.
Squad: Men: L Devendro Singh (49kg), Gaurav Bidhuri (52kg), Shiva Thapa (56kg), Dheeraj (60kg), Manoj Kumar (64kg), Mandeep Jangra (69kg), Vikas Krishan (75kg), Sumit Sangwan (81kg), Parveen Kumar (91kg), Satish Kumar (+91kg)
Women: M C Mary Kom (51kg), L Sarita Devi (60kg) and Pooja Rani (75kg).