Jamshedpur, Feb. 13: She said she'd win gold for her two daughters. And Jharkhand's champ boxer Aruna Mishra (35) kept her word today, when she punched her way to gold in the women's 75kg weight category at the 35th National Games in Kerala.

Her rival from Manipur, Elangbam Memthoi, stood no chance in any of the four rounds of the final bout at Thriprayar Indoor Stadium, as the 29-9 score shows. Aruna rained solid blows on Memthoi to win her fourth Games gold on the trot, after Manipur (1999), Assam (2007) and Jharkhand (2011).

With this, Jharkhand has notched up 23 medals in its kitty, with 8 gold, 3 silver and 12 bronze. But, Aruna is the lone boxer in the state's seven-member men's and women's squad to claim a medal.

She'd be happier if the state squad did better, but this win is special, she told The Telegraph over phone today.

'It's for my kids, I told them mummy will be back with gold. I wanted to tell them that as girls you can achieve anything,' said the Jamshedpur-based pugilist who had taken a two-year break after daughter Sonakshi's birth - first-born Minakshi is seven - but kept working for a comeback.

Her earlier wins were also comprehensive - over Kerala's Princy Joseph, 27-7, in the quarterfinals and over Marthamma Sattivada of Andhra Pradesh, 21-7, in the semis.

Proud coach Ernest Lakra, accompanying the state outfit, said over phone that Aruna played an attacking game throughout. 'Her rivals just couldn't stop her well-timed blows. Aruna mein abhi bhi dum-kham hai (Aruna still packs in plenty of punches),' Lakra said.

'Extremely happy things went according to plan,' Aruna laughed again.

She knows making things go according to plan needs an iron fist in a velvet glove. Wife to chartered accountant Shishir Jha, a mother, an inspector (special branch) with Jharkhand police and a coach, Aruna packs in '48 hours in a day'.

Born on November 23, 1979, and a national champ since 1999, it's been an incredible journey of motivation, fitness and tenacity for this pugilist in a state where even winners get sidelined for reasons other than ability.

Coaching boxers at Birsa Boxing Centre, Birsanagar, also helps her stay hungry, she said. 'Teaching youngsters makes me a student again. And, nothing beats the feeling of watching my wards do well,' Aruna said.