New Delhi: Seasoned M. C. Mary Kom oozed confidence when she sent China’s Yu Wu packing with an unanimous decision in the light flyweight (48 kg) category quarterfinals at the Aiba Women’s World Championship here on Tuesday. The 35-year-old Manipuri, who took her first gold medal in 2006 at the same venue, is assured of a seventh medal at the event.
Lovlina Borgohain (69kg), Sonia (57kg) and Simranjit Kaur (64kg) were other home girls to seal semifinal spots while Manisha Moun (54kg), Bhagyabati Kachari (81kg), Seema Poonia (+81kg) and Pinki Rani (51kg) fell on a mixed day for Indians.
Mary demolished her much younger Chinese opponent with elan. The mother-of-three adopted a tactical approach and connected with left jabs for a dominant start.
In the second round, the Chinese showed speed and impressive footwork and traded a flurry of punches. Mary kept her guard low and waited for right opening to counter attack.
Gradually, the Indian began to reach with hooks from left and right. The Chinese retaliated and got a warning for being very aggressive but Mary outmanoeuvred her opponent with perfect, tactical punches.
The Olympic bronze-medallist next faces North Korea’s Kim Hyang Mi in the semifinal on Thursday. The Indian had beaten her in the Asian Championships last year.
Assam girl Lovlina was assured of a medal on her first appearance at the event after she eased past Australia’s Kaye Frances Scott in the welterweight category with another unanimous decision. Later, Sonia beat Colombia’s Yeni Castenada 4-1 while Simranjeet defeated Amy Sara Broadhurst 3-1.
But Manisha, Bhagyabati and Pinki were not so lucky on the day. The 20-year-old Manisha could not get past top-seeded Stoyka Zhelyazkova Petrova with the split verdict (4-1) going in favour of the Bulgarian while Bhagyabati lost to Colombian Jessica Sinisterra in a split verdict (2-3). Pinki lost to superior North Korean Mi Choi Pang, 0-5 while Seema went down to Xiaoli Yang in a unanimous decision.
“I thought I did my best, but her (Petrova’s) experience carried the day. I was not as good in the first but did well in the last two rounds. It was my first outing and the experience I gained will help me in the future,” said Manisha.
