Indian women’s boxing’s biggest icon MC Mary Kom stormed her way into the semi-final of the AIBA Women’s World Championship after beating China’s Yu Wu 5-0 in the quarter-final of the 48 kg category to keep her quest for an unprecedented 6th gold medal alive.
The 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist displayed experience and calm as she got the better of a younger and athletic opponent, eventually getting a unanimous decision in her favour from all the judges.
Mary Kom is currently tied with Katie Taylor of Ireland on five gold in the World Championships. The 35-year-old Manipuri, a mother of three, won a silver in the first edition and then went on to win five gold in successive World Championships from 2002 to 2010.
“It was a tough bout. Not very tough but not very easy also. There are a lot of good Chinese boxers who keep coming. I have faced a lot of them but this opponent I have not faced earlier,” the star said after her bout.
“But once I got her game I thought out what to do and I had not much of a problem after that,” she added. The Olympic bronze-medallist next faces North Korea’s Kim Hyang Mi in the semi-final on Thursday. The Indian had beaten her in the Asian Championships last year.
{{/usCountry}}“But once I got her game I thought out what to do and I had not much of a problem after that,” she added. The Olympic bronze-medallist next faces North Korea’s Kim Hyang Mi in the semi-final on Thursday. The Indian had beaten her in the Asian Championships last year.
{{/usCountry}}“So, I am confident of winning but not overconfident,” she added.
With Tuesday’s win, the Manipuri became the most successful boxer in the marquee tournament. Taylor now plies her trade in the professional circuit.
(With inputs from PTI)