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AIBA Women’s World Championship: Mary Kom storm into quarter-finals
Premier Indian boxer Mary Kom stormed into the quarter-finals after defeating Aigerim Kassenayeva of Kazakhstan in the second round of the 48kg category at the AIBA Women’s World Boxing championship on Sunday.
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The five-time world championship gold medallist was declared the winner by a unanimous 5-0 decision following an intense three-round bout at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in Delhi.
Kom, 35, is currently tied with Katie Taylor of Ireland with five world championship gold medals and will next face Chinese Yu Wu in the quarters on Tuesday.
“Anything can happen in a boxing bout. The country and the fans want a gold from me and I will give my best and try to win a gold,” Kom a mother of three was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times after her victory. She won five consecutive gold medals from 2000 to 2010 at the competition.
“There was a bit of pressure as it was my first bout of the tournament. I have been handling the pressure of expectation from the people of my country for the last 16 years and I have happy to face this pressure. In the initial years, it was a bit tough to handle this pressure but now I am used to it,” she added.
She also hit out at her critics saying that she is not bothered by the negative things published by her. The Olympic bronze medallist said, “Sometimes, there were negative things being said about me but I am not bothered by these negative things about me. “My life is all about boxing and I will focus on my sport. I am enjoying my sport and I am enjoying the love offered by the fans. I am still working hard and hard work pays.”
Earlier, Manisha Maun outclassed defending world champion Dina Zholaman of Kazakhstan 5-0 in a unanimous decision to advance to the quarterfinals in the 54kg bantam category.
Lovlina Borgohain also won over Panama’s Atheyna Bylon 5-0 to progress into the pre-quarters of the 69kg women’s welterweight category. Meanwhile, Bhagyabati Kachar beat Irina-Nicoletta Schonberger by a 4-1 split decision in the 81kg women’s light heavyweight category.
It was, however, bad news elsewhere where former world champion Sarita Devi went down to Ireland’s Kellie Anne Harrington by 2-3 split verdict in the 60kg category.
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