India Open Boxing: Mary Kom Wins First Bout, Assures Of A Medal

Six-time world champion MC Mary Kom is assured of a medal in the 2nd India Open International Boxing Tournament in Guwahati on Tuesday, making her competitive debut at home in 51kg after opting out of the Asian Championships last month. The celebrated boxer defeated her opponent Mala Rai of Nepal in quarters to reach the semi-finals.

Learning experience

The London Olympic bronze medallist won the dominating fight 5-0 and excitement was overloaded. “It's also a learning experience for me. The Nepal opponent was experienced and and quite strong. It's glad to be back in India. We all are trying our best to make the country proud,” Kom said after the game, NDTV reported.

Powerful punches

The 36-year-old displayed what it is like to the most experienced boxed in the ring with her solo punches after switching to a higher weight. “I try to learn something from every bout. The main focus is qualification for the Olympics and I am working towards it,” said Mary. Asked how tough was it fighting without the air-conditioning facility, Mary said, “There may be some technical problem. We must bear with it,” The Hindu reported.

Eyes on the Olympic gold

Last month, the boxer backed out of Asiad to prepare for the World Championships as the event brings her one step closer to Olympic qualification.

“I have been preparing well for 51kg category. Having got a real idea of the competition in this class in Germany, I am ready to give my best at this tournament and test myself ahead of the World Championships,” said Mary Kom, who led six Indian boxers to gold in the last edition in New Delhi, The Bridge reported.

Next move

Kom will now face off Asian championships bronze medallist Nikhat Zareen, who beat World youth medallist Anamika 5-0, in the semifinals. “Mary did is my idol. I hope it will be the best bout of the event,” said Nikhat.

READ:What Makes Mary Kom’s Life So Inspirational, Every Single Day

Magnificent Mary

In her nearly two decades long illustrious career, Mary became the most successful boxer in world championships’ history when she claimed the 48 kg category top honours in November last year in Delhi. The mother of three has won gold at prestigious events — the Commonwealth Games, India Open Boxing Tournament and now the World Championships. This time too, the six-time world champion is India’s biggest medal hope.

Earlier this year, her stellar sixth world title triumph secured her the number one position in the International Boxing Association’s (AIBA) latest world rankings. Same month she was also seen gracing the cover of fashion magazine Femina.

In the 2012 Olympics, she became India’s first woman boxer to clinch an Olympic medal. Now, the 36-year-old is looking forward to her 2020 Olympic dream, and her punches are becoming stronger than ever.

The Historic Gold

Late last year Kom created history by grabbing her sixth world championship title. She is an Olympic silver medalist and an Asian Games gold medal winner. The 36-year-old has surpassed Katie Taylor’s tally of five world titles and equalled Cuba’s Felix Savon as the most successful boxer (men and women’s boxing combined) in the history of World Championships. No other woman boxer has done it before.

Feature Image Credit: Live Mint

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