India’s Manju Rani brought home a silver medal on Sunday, after competing in the 48 kg final at the Women’s World Boxing Championships in Russia. Rani lost to second seed Ekaterina Paltceva of Russia. The 19-year-old had defeated Thailand’s Chuthamat Raksat in the semi-final taking India’s medal tally to 4 in the Championship. She’s the second Indian female boxer to reach the finals on her Worlds’ debut after Mary Kom did it in 2001.
“I gave my 100% today, will turn this silver medal into gold next time,” Rani said after her winning bout.
Born in Haryana’s Rithal village, Rani took to boxing after she lost her father, a Border Security Force officer, to cancer in 2010. “Boxing helped me deal with my father’s death. It kept my mind away from the tragedy.” Rani told Indian Express. Rani who started her training on a mud pit in her village made it to the Indian team after winning the national title (48kg) in January, reports Indian Express.
