Boxer Marykom makes a return in national championship

Agra, Nov 3 (IANS) Three times world champion MC Marykom will return from a sabbatical in the ninth Senior Women's National Boxing Championship.

Marykom, after her marriage and birth of twins, was out of the ring for the past two years. But the ring queen on her return has made it clear that she would be focussing on winning a gold medal in the World Championship.

More than 300 women boxers from 27 states and two sports boards are participating in the tournament that began Sunday at St John's College ground and is being organised by the Indian Boxing Federation (IBF).

'I am practising hard and determined to do something for the country in the coming Beijing World Championship from Nov 22,' she told IANS.

The Padmashri awardee said Indian female boxers will perform well in 2010 Commonwealth Games.

This national championship is held at Agra for the first time. However the poor response from the local people disappointed the lady boxers, some of whom are confident of doing well at the international level.

The other star attractions included current world champion Sarita Devi and Asian champion Kalpna Choudhary.