After a string of bronze, Maisnam Meena Kumari Devi desperately wanted a change in the colour of her medal at the international competitions. Her perseverance paid off at the 70th International Boxing Tournament Strandja 2019 in Sofia, Bulgaria, recently when she won gold in the 54kg category.
Talking to DNA, the 29-year-old Manipuri boxer said: "I have come to Bulgaria four times. I won bronze in each of the three previous visits. I said to myself, 'I have won bronze three times, let me win gold this time'. I had to work hard. I am glad I could achieve my target of gold."
Not only did she change the colour of the metal in Sofia but it was also her first international gold of her career following silver in Istanbul last year.
On the importance of her first gold at the international stage, Meena, attached with Manipur Police, said: "The Asian Championships are coming in April, then the World Championships in September. Having won gold here, I have to focus on gold in the next championships that I participate. My immediate target is the Asian Championships.
"To win gold at the start of the year, it is as if my life has just begun. I want to finish with more gold medals at the international level."
Meena has set her long-term goals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic participation. But she has a problem there. The 54kg category that Meena participates in is not in the Olympics. "My dream is to participate in the Olympics. But my weight category is not there If need be, I have to change to a different weight category. It is not easy. I have to put on weight to be 57kg. I have to work hard."
Hailing from the same state as the legendary MC Mary Kom, Meena said: "I feel very proud to be from the same state as Mary Kom. We practice together at camps. She gives boxing tips and motivates us in a big way. She gives us the confidence that if she can do it, why can't we also achieve what she has done."
Meena received a first round bye at Strandja and wiped out her opponents Zlatislava Chukanova of Bulgaria and Ekaterina Sycheva of Russia 5-0 in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively.
The final was not as easy. "I had to work hard and it was increasingly becoming difficult. Finally I managed to scrape through and glad," Meena said of the 3-2 verdict in the final.
