India hails woman boxer's silver at world meet

Indian sports circles were celebrating on Thursday after a female teenage boxer captured a silver medal in the women's world boxing championship in the United States.

C. Merykom Hmangte, an 18-year-old from the tiny northeastern state of Manipur, won two bouts before losing to her Turkish rival in the light-flyweight category at the inaugural women's world meet held in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Indian women have only recently taken up boxing, overcoming stiff resistance from parents reluctant to let their daughters pursue the bruising sport, fearing it may affect their marriage prospects.

"She was leading in the first round but her opponent managed to score points in the final round," coach Anoop Kumar said on the squad's return home.

Kumar said Hmangte's effort was even more praiseworthy because the squad managed to reach the venue only minutes before the opening round because of a delay in obtaining visas.

"In fact, our best bet was Lekha in the lightheavy class but she had to fight her first round just 20 minutes after landing in Scranton and lost," Kumar said.

Russia won the team championship in the November 27-December 2 event, ahead of Canada and Hungary.

India was only one of four Asian countries -- China, Chinese Taipei and Thailand were the others -- to participate in the 30-nation event.