Olympics dream over for Mary Kom, Sarita

ASTANA: India’s deemed Olympics medal prospects vanished as former world champions, M.C. Mary Kom and L. Sarita Devi failed to qualify for the Rio Games after their second round exit from the Women’s World Boxing Championships here on Saturday. While Mary, a five-time world champion, lost 0-2 to Germany’s Azize Nimani in the flyweight category (51 kg), Asian Games 2014 bronze medallist Sarita lost 0-3 to Mexican Victoria Torres in the lightweight (60 kg) competition. World Championships are the final qualifying competition for the Rio Games to be held from August 5-21. Only three weight categories of 51 kg, 60 kg and 75 kg are part of the women’s boxing competitions at the Olympics. An entry into the semifinals not only assures the boxer of a medal but also a berth for the Olympics. However, one more Indian pugilist — Pooja Rani (75 kg) — is still in contention in the World Championships and will be eying a berth for the Olympics. The feature of both the losses suffered by the Indians was that they lost to younger opponents. Mary Kom had earlier said that she will quit the sport post the 2016 Olympics and with the loss, it could be the end of an illustrious career. Mary’s state-mate Sarita, 31, will also find it difficult to qualify for the 2020 Olympics — which is a farfetched dream at the moment. During the bout, London Olympics bronze medallist Mary started off positively but 25-year-old Azize played a tactical bout of strong defence and made the most of limited opportunities. The 2014 Asian Games champion attacked Azize but Azize was able to keep her at a distance and didn’t allow herself to be in a position to concede too many. The young German managed to be successful in her tactics despite a fiesty Mary upping the ante in the final moments. With the loss, the hopes of Mary, mother of three to qualify for the Games fizzled out. (IANS)