May appear for Olympics trials in Mary’s category

Gaurav Kanthwal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 13

Nineteen-year-old Rithal girl Manju Rani made the final of the women’s World Championships to become the first Indian in 18 years to do so in her maiden appearance at the event. In 2001, MC Mary Kom qualified for the Worlds final on her debut.

Both faced initial hardships before claiming their first medal at the World Championships but with the Olympics less than a year away, the two are likely to cross each other’s path in the trials for the Tokyo Olympics.

Mary Kom won the bronze in the 51kg category at the World Championships while Manju Rani secured the 48kg silver in the premier event. But in the Tokyo Olympics, there’s no 48kg category and the women’s competition begins from 51kg category onwards. For Manju to stake her claim in the 51kg category at the Tokyo Olympics, she will have to face Mary Kom in the trials. “Manju has done exceptionally well in the World Championships, she should stake her claim in the 51kg category for the Tokyo Olympics,” said Sube Singh Beniwal, Manju’s childhood coach.

Ironically, the silver medallist at the World Championships could not make it to the state team, Haryana, this year and had to shift to Punjab to compete in the boxing nationals.

“She had to take admission in B.Sc 1st year in Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, after she was denied a chance in Haryana. Manju won the gold in the 48kg category for Punjab in the third Elite Women’s National Boxing Championships in Vijayanagara to make it to the national camp,” Beniwal said.ALL IN A YEAR

• World Championships: SILVER
• National Championships: GOLD 
• Strandja Memorial Cup SILVER
• India Open: BRONZE 
• Thailand Open: BRONZE