Harpal Singh Bedi / New Delhi
Ace pugilist MC Mary Kom created a history of sort by assuring herself a seventh medal but India had a mixed luck with only four of the eight pugilists in the fray making it to the medal rounds of the 10th Women’s World Boxing Championship at KD Jadhav Hall,IG Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Mary Kom raised hope of another day of Indian domination as became the first Indian to enter the medal round in this competition. But that was not to be, with Manisha Maun Bhagya Kachari, Seema Ponia and Pinki Rani failing to make the cut for the semi finals.
Kom along with Lovlina, Sonia Chahal and Simranjeet Kaur made it to last four of their respective weight category
The 35-year celebrated Indian overwhelmed Yu Wu from China 5:0 in the Light Fly (48 kg) category. She was followed by Lovlina Borgohan, who ousted Aussie Kaye Frances Scott in Welter class (69 kg), with another unanimous decision of the day.
Later in the evening session, Sonia beat Colombia’s Yeni Castenada and Simranjeet Kaur outpointed Amy Sara Broadhurst.
Fantastic 4⃣
🇮🇳 assured of four medals! Our boxers have been on a roll at the ongoing #WorldChampionship in Delhi; a strong showing today in the quarters has ensured 4 semi berths at the #WWWCHs2018. Kudos girls, let's keep the momentum going!#Goforgold♀💪👀 #PunchMeinHainDum pic.twitter.com/m1I3C7t0vL
— Boxing Federation (@BFI_official) November 20, 2018
In the 54 kg category Manisha Moun’s tryst with the world championship ended as she lost to top-seeded Stoyka Zhelyazkova Petrova (1:4). while Bhagyabati Kachari( plus 81 kg) lost to Colombian Jessica Sinisterra, in a split verdict (2:3). Seema Ponia made way for China’s Xiaoli Yang in plus 81 kg category. Pinki lost to a superior North Korean Mi Choi Pang(0:5) in 51 kg.
Mary Kom displayed tremendous patience and kept her cool,. With the crowd rooting for Mary, the tactical boxer didn’t try to dominate to begin with biding time to inch her way, tackling the Chinese, a first-timer at the Worlds, before upping the ante in the second and third rounds for the unanimous decision.
Mary will be meeting in the semi-finals North Korean Mi Hyang Kim, who won 5:0 against South Korean Chorong Bak. The Indian has a good record against Kim, having beaten the North Korean in the final of the Asian Championships last November.
“The World Championships are always tough. The Chinese come up with good new faces. I won’t say it was very easy or very tough. I planned my strategy and fought accordingly,” said Mary.
On her next opponent, the Manipuri said “she could be coming with some plans against me because I had beaten her last year. But I am prepared for it.”
Manisha, was full of aggression but that strategy did not work as the methodical Bulgarian , landed a few lefts and a couple of straight on the Indian’s face. In the third, the former European champion was far superior reaching out to her Indian opponent which, perhaps, got the judges’ nod, despite Manisha’s last-round efforts.
“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,” Manisha admitted later
Lovlina was as explosive in her approach . The 21-year-old Assamese, took her time before going all out from the first round. She dominated the next two rounds also to emerge clear 5-0 winner .
She will face Taipei’s Chen Nien-Chin,in semi finals “I had met her once before when I lost to her. But I will have to prepare well for Thursday’s semi-finals,” Manisha said.
Sonia assured the hosts their third medal , as she defeated Colombia’s Yeni Castenada in a split verdict in the 57 kg category. The Indian continued her fine run as she won the bout with a 4:1 decision.
In Plus 81 kg category ,Bhagyabati’s slow paced tactics in the first round cost her the bout. Her Colombian rival was at her attacking best. The Indian did manage to trade off blows in the second and, mostly, in the third to make amends. But it was too little and too late and Jassica won 3-2.
“I didn’t box well in the first. I covered up a lot of ground in the second and third, but my opponent did really well and deserved to be the winner,” said Bhagyabati.
Pinki was up against North Korean Chol Mi Pang, whose reach and speed is too well known. Pang was aggressive and landed her punches on target areas. The Indian, pushed to the ropes, came back partially in the second showing her intent. However the speedy Pang made the Indian nervous on more occasions than one and her superiority prevailed in the Fly (51 kg) quarterfinals.
Pang will take on USA’s Virgina Fuchs, the only American boxer so far to enter the medal round.
“She used her height to great advantage. She also had the knack to come against me and I was not up to the mark,” Pinki said after her round.
Thailand’s Sudaporn Seesondee reached the medal round beating Finland’s Mira Potkonen, the top-seed here. The only Olympics medallist from Finland, she was expected to go up to the final but it was disappointing to see her bowing out of the championships as the Thai won the quarterfinals in a split verdict (4:1).