Mary Kom assured India of their first medal at the Women’s World Championships 2018, while Lovlina Borgohain followed suit later on in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Mary won her quarter-final bout against Wu Yu of China. Already a six-time World Championships medallist, Mary is set to add one more after entering the semi-final of the 48kg weight class with an unanimous points decision against Wu.
This is the 35-year-old’s first medal since the 2010 World Championships where she won the gold medal. She has won five gold and one silver medal dating back to the 2001 edition of the tournament.
While the veteran got India to a great start, Manisha Maun failed to continue the run as she went down to Stoyka Petrova in the 54kg quarter-final. She lost by a split decision to the number one seed in the competition.
The youngster, who had beaten a two-time worlds medallist and a former world champion in the first two rounds, found it difficult to control the Bulgarian opponent. Though she had a good first round, Manisha failed to continue the momentum and took some strong punches.
In the first bout involving Mary, there was little action, Mary was the better boxer with clean punches and dominated the Chinese boxer with her movement. More importantly, Mary rarely allowed Wu to get a clean shot at her.
She next faces North Korea’s Hyang Mi Kim in the semi-final.
The first session turned out to be a mixed bag for India as results of two other bouts went either ways. Lovlina Borhogain defeated Australia’s Kaye Scott by unanimous decision in the 69kg quarters while Bhagyabati Kachari had to suffer a loss in the 81kg quarters.
Lovlina, who had lost to Scott in an earlier competition, was easily the better boxer inside the ring and proved it by entering the semi-final at her debut World Championships. But the Assam girl is not satisfied yet.
“I am really happy that I have won the bronze medal for now but having worked for gold, I want to win that. Abhi itni khushi nahi hai,” she said.
But another Assam girl Kachari had to be content with a quarter-final finish at her maiden world championships after she lost to Colombia’s Jessica Sinisterra by a split decision.
With that, India managed to send two boxers to the semi-finals while two others’ tournament ended with out a medal in the first session on Tuesday.
Four other Indian boxers — Pinki Jangra, Simranjit Kaur, Sonia and Seema Punia — will take the ring in the second session for a place in the semi-finals.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!