Kokrajhar, Feb. 25: World champion M.C. Mary Kom of Manipur today advanced with ease into the pinweight (46kg) second round in the fourth senior women’s national boxing championship here.

On Day Two of the championship at the Kokrajhar District Sports Association playground, the 20-year-old gold medallist at the world boxing championship in Turkey in 2002, proved too formidable an opponent for Vijaya Kumari of Andhra Pradesh to handle.

It was a good day for home boxers Beena Das and Kalpana Choudhury, both moving into the next round of the 60 and 46kg rounds with victories over Hemlata of Rajasthan and K.J. Lata of Chattisgarh respectively. However, S. Ibencha of Manipur knocked down Assam girl Kabita Changmai (in red) in the 63kg category.

In other categories, Sumitra Chetri (46kg) of Sikkim, Kamala Bisht (57kg) of Uttaranchal, C.H. Lakshmania (60kg) of Andhra Pradesh, M. Jose (63kg) of Kerala, Z. Lolreniani (66kg) of Mizoram and Ch. Somlata Devi (70kg) of Manipur won their bouts.

In the heavyweight division, Zothan Rull of Mizoram beat Kraja Moni of Tamil Nadu in a 75kg bout.

National gold medallist Pratibha Kachari of the hosts will throw her first punch in the championship tomorrow in the 75kg event.

The Kokrajhar girl, who is appearing in the ongoing higher secondary examinations simultaneously, said: “Though my training has been hampered by the exams, I am confident and raring to go.”

More sports officials have reached here for the championship, the biggest in the town in recent times.

The organising committee felicitated 1983 Arjuna award-winner J.L. Pradhan, Anup Kumar, chief coach of the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF), IABF vice-presidents Koibe Salam, Anil Bohdar and Deben Gogoi, IABF joint secretaries J.C. Rias and G.S. Shaw, ring officer S. Sandil, chief recorder D. Vikaji, IABF co-ordinator Rajesh Thakran and the Assam Amateur Boxing Association secretary K.K. Boro and vice-president Prabin Neog.