Four-time world champion M.C. Mary Kom notched up her third Asian title while L. Sarita Devi clinched her fourth, as the Indian boxers finished fourth in the event with two gold, a silver and five bronze medals in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Sundayday.
Mary Kom, who got a walkover into the finals after her semifinal opponent failed to turn up on Saturday, defeated old rival Jong Ok of Korea 8-1 in the summit clash. Mary Kom had to settle for the silver in the last edition of the event in Guwahati and the diminutive pin weight (46kg) boxer went one better this time.
Leading 2-1 in the opening round, Mary Kom didn’t let Ok strike a single scoring blow in the next three rounds. “It has turned out to be easier then expected. The fact that I didn’t compete before the finals because of the walkover also helped. I was feeling fresh which helped my movement in the ring,” the Khel Ratna Awardee said from Astana.
“This was the fourth time we were facing each other and I now lead her 3-1. It feels great,” Mary Kom said. Former champion Aswathi Mol settled for silver after losing the light heavy weight (81kg) final 0-5 to China’s Wang Yanrui.
— PTI