Incheon: M C Mary Kom today created history by becoming the first Indian woman boxer to clinch a gold medal in the Asian Games but the day was marred by a threat of disciplinary action against colleague Sarita Devi, who returned her bronze medal in protest against her controversial loss to a South Korean.
India added four medals on the 12th day of competitions. but slipped to 11th spot in the overall standings.
While the seasoned Mary Kom, a mother of three, grabbed the limelight with a spectacular performance in the ring, middle-distance runner Tintu Luka fetched a silver and the women’s hockey team earned a bronze on a relatively quiet day for the Indians.
Adding to India’s tally was Annu Rani, who won an unexpected bronze in the women’s Javelin throw event.
However amidst medal winning efforts, an inconsolable Sarita surprised everyone by returning her bronze medal during the podium ceremony. She first gave her medal to Jina Park and when the South Korean returned it, Sarita left the medal at podium before leaving.
Sarita is now facing an AIBA probe as their Technical Delegate has submitted a report on the issue to Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), describing her act as “regrettable”.
“AIBA has already proceeded its Disciplinary Action Process to review this case, and the decision will be made immediately after the Asian Games,” AIBA said in a statement.
Five-time world champion and Olympic bronze-medallist Mary Kom was the undisputed star of the day as she beat Kazakhstan’s Zhaina Shekerbekova 2-0 to improve on the bronze medal she won in the previous edition of the Games, where women boxers made their debut.
Luka clocked her season’s best to win a silver in the 800m race, while the women’s hockey team defeated Japan 2-1 in the play-off. Annu also recorded her personal best throw with an effort of 59.53m.
Despite adding four more medals, India slid to 11th spot in the standings, their tally at 50 (seven gold, nine silver and 34 bronze). China continued to rule the roost with a haul of 294 medals, followed by Korea (189) and Japan (160).
Mary Kom, christened ‘Magnificent Mary’ by the International Boxing Association, trailed her rival in the battle of two left-handed boxers in the first round with three ringside judges being swayed towards her rival’s way at the Seonhak boxing gymnasium.
But an undeterred Mary stormed her way back by edging past her rival in round two and then dominated the Kazakh in the last two rounds after one of the judge’s score tied the two at 38-38.
After the close first two rounds, Mary started landing good blows on her rival’s face and even body. A solid right hook followed by a left in the third shook the Kazakh pugilist.
She got a unanimous verdict in the third round and kept her aggressive intent in the fourth to earn the verdict and the coveted gold.
It was the third women’s medal for India from the ring, after the bronze medals won by L Sarita Devi (women’s light weight) and Pooja Rani (women’s middle weight).
In athletics, Luka clocked 1:59.19s to better the bronze medal she had won in this event in the previous edition of the Games in Guangzhou.
The gold was won by Kazakhstan’s Mukasheva Margarita, who broke the two-decade-old Games record of 1:59.85s with a timing of 1:59.02s.
The other Indian in fray, Sushma Devi ended fourth with a personal best timing of 2:01.92.
Annu achieved the mark in her first attempt as she led the field before being taken by China’s Li Zhang and Lingwei, who won gold and silver respectively.(pti)