Sarjubala Devi

{{Infobox person

| name = Sarjubala Devi

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name = Samjetsabam Sarjubala Devi

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1993|6|1}}

| birth_place = Nongpok Lourembam, Thoubal, Manipur, India

| nationality = Indian

| other_names =

| occupation = Boxer Women's 48kg

| known_for = Light Welter-weight (48kg)

}}

{{MedalTableTop | name = no | medals =

{{MedalCountry | {{IND}} }}

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Samjetsabam Sarjubala Devi (born 1 March 1993) is an Indian woman boxer from Manipur and represented India at the 2016 Rio Olympics.{{cite news |title=Sarjubala bows out of Sr Women's National boxing Championship |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/boxing/Sarjubala-bows-out-of-Sr-Womens-National-boxing-Championship/articleshow/17402662.cms |accessdate=24 July 2014 |newspaper=The Times of India |date=28 Nov 2012}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/boxing/rio-olympics-2016-lack-boxing-federation-hurt-indian-women-boxers|title=Rio Olympics 2016: Lack of a boxing federation has hurt the Indian women boxers|date=2016-05-25|access-date=2018-11-17|language=en}} After being awarded as the Best Boxer at Youth World Women Boxing Championship organised at Turkey, the Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ) announced support for Sarjubala Devi in 2012.{{cite news |title=OGQ to support youth world champion boxer Sarjubala Devi |url=http://zeenews.india.com/sports/others/ogq-to-support-youth-world-champion-boxer-sarjubala-devi_737182.html |accessdate=24 July 2014 |agency=Zee News |date=7 February 2012}} She is referred to as the next Mary Kom.{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/sports/asian-games-2018-with-tweaked-boxing-style-golden-girl-sarjubala-devi-wants-to-make-up-for-cwg-heartbreak-4963451.html|title=Asian Games 2018: With tweaked boxing style, 'golden girl' Sarjubala Devi wants to make up for CWG heartbreak - Firstpost|website=www.firstpost.com|date=14 August 2018|access-date=2018-11-17}} She used to be part of the 48 kg category but recently changed it to 51 kg category. After the change she claimed a Gold Medal at the National Women's Boxing Championship 2018 (Fly category). She also won the Best Boxer award at the 7th Youth Women National Championship in Patiala and in the 14th Senior Women Boxing Competition.{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiaboxing.in/boxerdetails.php?regno=7203|title=Indian Boxing Federation Boxer Details|website=www.indiaboxing.in|access-date=2018-11-17}}

Early life and career

Sarjubala Devi was born in a farmer's family to Sh Rajen Singh and Thoibi Devi. Being inspired by the stories of Mary Kom's success, she joined boxing school in 2005. Two years later, she joined the Sports Authority of India training centre in her city, Imphal India.{{cite news |title=How Manipur's Punching its Way Out of North East Box |url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Layout/Includes/ETNEW/ArtWin.asp?From=Archive&Skin=ETNEW&BaseHref=ETM%2F2012%2F08%2F12&ViewMode=HTML&EntityId=Ar02300&AppName=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728060403/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Layout/Includes/ETNEW/ArtWin.asp?From=Archive&Skin=ETNEW&BaseHref=ETM%2F2012%2F08%2F12&ViewMode=HTML&EntityId=Ar02300&AppName=1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 July 2014 |accessdate=24 July 2014 |newspaper=The Times of India}} Before winning Silver at the Junior Nationals she won the Sub-Junior Women National Championships both in years 2006 and 2008. She won the World Youth Championship in 2011 and later went on to win the Senior National Championship the same year. She has also participated in the 11th Senior Women National Boxing Championship in 2011.

Devi did not make it past the quarterfinals stage at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She also represented India at the Asian Games 2018 but was knocked out during the quarterfinals against China's Chang Yuan.{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/asian-games-2018/asian-games-asian-games-2018-live-score-and-updates-india-women-look-to-make-it-to-hockey-final/story-QjwAoBufUFPWqC7PxIdozK.html#highlight42|title=Asian Games 2018 day 11 as it happened: Arpinder, Swapna bag gold, India women book hockey final berth|date=2018-08-29|website=www.hindustantimes.com|access-date=2018-11-17|language=en}}

In February 2022 Devi had her first professional boxing match against Lulu Kayage of Tanzania. The match took place in Dubai. This was Kayage's seventeenth professional match but Devi won by a unanimous decision in what was reported as a one-sided match.{{Cite web |last=PTI |title=Sarjubala Devi wins debut fight in professional boxing |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/boxing/sarjubala-devi-wins-debut-fight-in-professional-boxing/article38440432.ece |access-date=2022-04-20 |website=Sportstar |date=26 February 2022 |language=en}}

Achievements

Sarjubala Devi is an honourable boxer, some of her achievements in the field of boxing are:{{cite web |title=Sarjubala Devi Olympic Gold Quest |url=http://www.olympicgoldquest.in/sarjubala-devi/ |website=olympicgoldquest.in |accessdate=24 July 2014 |archive-date=16 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116025552/http://www.olympicgoldquest.in/sarjubala-devi/ |url-status=dead }}

class="wikitable"
Year ! Event ! Location ! Awards/ achievements
2006 \| Sub-Junior Women National Championships \| India \| Gold Medal
2008 \| Sub-Junior Women National Championships \| India \| Gold Medal
2009 \| Junior Women National Championships \| Goa \| Silver Medal
2010 \| National Boxing Championships \| Bhopal \| Gold Medal
2010 \|6th Youth Women National Boxing Championship \|Guwahati \|Best Boxer
2011 \| National Boxing Championships \| Bhopal \| Gold Medal
2011 \| Youth National Championships \| India \| Gold Medal
2011 \|7th Youth Women National Boxing Championship \|Patiala \|Best Boxer
2011 \| AIBA World Youth Boxing Championships \| Antalya \| Gold Medal
2013 \|14th Senior Women Boxing Competition \|Khatima \|Best Boxer
2014 \| Women World Boxing Championship \| Jeju City, Korea \| Silver Medal

class="wikitable"

Year

! Event

! Location

! Awards/ achievements

2006

| Sub-Junior Women National Championships

| India

| Gold Medal

2008

| Sub-Junior Women National Championships

| India