Pun, Lakra exceptions on low intensity finals day

If you want to enjoy a boxing event at the amateur level, never ever watch the finals. This is a hard lesson one learnt after witnessing the final bouts at the Senior National Championships...

If you want to enjoy a boxing event at the amateur level, never ever watch the finals. This is a hard lesson one learnt after witnessing the final bouts at the Senior National Championships that concluded at the Karnail Singh Stadium today.

Even before the first bout of the day in the light fly category 48 kg began, one could guess the winner. To compound matters, there were two walkovers 8212; the beneficiaries being Vijender Railways and Manpreet Services. That meant six out of seven boxers from Railways had already taken away a bigger share of the loaf, leaving the crumbs to Services and other boxers.

Thus the hosts lifted the team title 61 points, leaving the second and third spots to Services 46 and Jharkhand 22.

However, Som Bahadur Pun and A L Lakra proved more than a point on their return to the ring with a gold each in 57kg and 64kg categories, respectively. They and Manpreet, despite winning here, are not sure whether they would be able to make it to the World Boxing Championships 8212; the first qualifiers for Beijing 8212; in Chicago in October.

As the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation IABF had declared before the meet, all the winners had automatically booked their tickets to Chicago. But a clear picture about the participation of Lakra, Pun and Manpreet would be known after the selection committee meets.

Pun and Lakra did, however, indicate where their hearts lay after their bouts. 8220;Who will not want to compete in a world meet, particularly when it is a qualifying event for the Olympics? But the decision is not ours,8221; said Pun.

As for the best bouts of the day, Lakra showed his class, outscoring his Railways rival M Suresh to emerge winner in the third round. But it was Delhi8217;s Jasveer, coming from the stable of former India boxer Rajkumar Sangwan, who was simply superb. In two rounds, he outscored BSF8217;s Ajay, going up 20-0 to force the referee stop the contest.

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Earlier, Railways8217; Balbir and Jitender slaughtered two little lambs 8212; Bishwjeer Assam Rifles and Mukesh Chandigarh 8212; pounding them with excellent combination punches. So did Jai Bhagwan when he took on KKT Singh Services for a 24-18 verdict and teammate Dilbag outscored against Jharkhand8217;s Gurpal to complete almost a sweep of gold medals.

RESULTS All finals

48 kg: Balbir RSPB bt Bishwjeet AR 33-11; 51 kg: Jitender RSPB bt Mukesh Chd 31-13, 54 kg: S Suresh AIP bt Torak MEG 29-19; 57 kg: AL Lakra SSCB b M Suresh RSPB RSC OS 3; 60kg: Jai Bhagwan RSPB bt KKT Singh SSCB 24-18; 64 kg: Dilbag RSPB bt Gurpal Jha; 75 kg: Vijender RSPB w/o from Amarjeet SSCB; 81kg: Jasveer Del bt Ajay BSF RSC OS 2; 91kg: Manpreet SSCB w/o from Harpal Man; 91kg: Paramjeet RSPB bt Mehar Jha 13-12.

Team Championships: Railways 61 points, Services 46 and Jharkhand 22.