New Delhi: MC Mary Kom was the queen and the Indira Gandhi Stadium her queendom as she stormed into final of the Women’s World Boxing Championship here Thursday, staying on course for an unprecedented sixth gold. But Lovlina Borgohain had to settle for a bronze after losing her semifinal bout in 69kg.
The Indian pugilist beat North Korea’s Kim Hyang Mi to reach the 48kg final. The 35-year-old five-time World Champion beat her North Korean opponent in a unanimous decision of the five judges in the semifinals.
By reaching the final, she has already become the most successful woman pugilist in the event’s history. Mary Kom entered the event with a remarkable tally of five gold medals and a silver to her credit. She last won a World Championship medal in 2010 — a 48kg category gold.
Before this World Championship, the Manipuri was tied with Irish legend Katie Taylor (five gold and a bronze) in the number of medals won. Taylor now plies her trade in the professional circuit.
If the dimunitive Manipuri, also called ‘Magnificent Mary’, wins a gold Saturday, she will match Cuban men’s legend Felix Savon as the joint most successful pugilist in the World Championships history.
Savon, who also won three Olympic gold medals during an illustrious career, won six gold and one silver in heavyweight in the World Championships between 1986 and 1989.
“I have beaten the North Korean opponent in the Asian Championships last year and that time it was a one-sided bout. But win or lose, every boxer always learn and I think she has learnt (from that bout). At the same time I also have learnt and I came prepared to defend and counter. I am happy that I am in the final,” she said after the bout.
India, however, suffered a jolt as the second semifinalist of the day, Lovlina lost 4-0 to Chen Nien-Chin of Taipei, who had won a bronze in the 2016 World Championships in 75kg.
