The Olympic bronze medallist and five-time world champion MC Mary Kom won hearts all over again at the Asian Women's Boxing Championships on Thursday (Nov 2).
Kom started off India's campaign in the championships, making a return to her preferred 48 kg category. She has advanced to the quarterfinals.
The 34-year-old easily gained control over her opponent, local favourite Diem Thi Trinh Kieu, in the opening round of the light flyweight (48 kg) category.
Also Read: Not ready to hang up her gloves: Remembering Mary Kom’s finest Sporting Moments
It was a big game for the India’s best name in boxing. She has put on gloves after a long pause in her career. She last performed the 51 kg category, which was included as an Olympic category only before the 2012 Games.
Kom began unravelling her strategies slowly. She took time to know her opponent well. The Indian veteran was dominating with clean straights. With a sharp edge, Mary threw Kieu off-balance with some killing combination blows.
READ: Mary Kom To Receive ‘Legends Award’ From AIBA
When interacting with the media last time about her return, Kom said, “My next target is the Asian Championships in November. I want to give myself a chance to be in the team and give my best and win a medal for India.” She was determined during the felicitation ceremony of India’s Special Olympics contingent, TOI reported.
The former champion and London Olympic bronze medallist is one of the celebrated woman boxers in India and across the globe.
She has proved her resilience from time to time, even overcoming the last Olympic heartbreak. And, she knows she would not give up before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Also Read: Mary Kom Tells Her Sons How She Was Molested In A Letter
Even though she had taken temporary retirement after last year’s World Championships, but had her eyes firmly on her goals.
"Magnificent Mary” will now face off Chinese Taipei's Meng-Chieh Ping, who had already suppressed Thailand's Panpradab Plodsai in her opening bout, in the next round.
Picture Credit: thetraveltrunk.in
Also Read: Don’t let the bronze change the colour of your heart: Mary Kom to Sakshi Malik
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