New Delhi: The celebrated Mary Kom on Tuesday became the most successful pugilist in the Women’s World Championships history by assuring herself a seventh medal while three more Indians reached the semifinals to be assured of their maiden medals here.
The 35-year-old Mary, a mother of three, defeated China’s Wu Yu 5-0 in the light flyweight (48kg) category quarterfinals to enter the last-four stage and be assured of at least a bronze.
Lovlina Borgohain (69kg), Sonia Chahal (57kg) and Simranjit Kaur (64kg), part of India’s young brigade in the boxing team, also reached the semifinals to be assured of medals in their debut World Champinships.
The 21-year-old Borgohain, an Asian Champrionships bronze medallist last year, beat Scott Kaye Frances of Australia in the quarterfinals in a unanimous decision while Sonia, also 21, was a 4-1 split decision winner against Maecela Yeni Castenada of Columbia.
Simranjit, 23, had a difficult fight against Amy Sara Broadhurst of Ireland but eventually won the quarterfinal bout 3-1.
In fact, the Punjab boxer lost the first and third rounds while winning the second. She, however, won in overall points which read 27-29 28-28 29-27 30-26 29-27.
Eight Indians took the field on Tuesday but four of them lost their bouts.
Pinki Rani lost her 51kg quarterfinal bout against Pang Chol Mi of North Korea in a unanimous decision while Manisha Maun was beaten by top seed and last edition’s silver winner Stoyka Petrova of Bulgaria in a 4-1 decision in 54kg.
Kachari Bhagyabati (81kg) lost 3-2 on split decision against Jessica Sinisterra of Columbia.
The Indian was leading in the first round but the Columbian fought back to do better in the next two to clinch the bout.
Seema Poonia (+81kg) was the last Indian to take the ring but she was no match for her formidable opponent from China, Yang Xiaoli, who was the defending champion as well as 2014 gold winner.
With less number of boxers competing in the weight category, Seema was directly competing at the quarterfinals in her first bout of the tournament but she lost in a unanimous decision.
With four medals assured, India’s performance is set to be the best in recent times.
The country’s best performance ever was the eight medals, including four gold, it won in 2006.
After that, India won four medals in 2008, two in 2010, one in 2012, two in 2014 and one in 2016.
Mary Kom entered the event with a remarkable tally of five gold medals and a silver to her credit.
She last won a world championship medal in 2010 — a gold in the 48kg category.
Mary Kom, the Olympic bronze-medallist, next faces North Korea’s Kim Hyang Mi in the semi-final on Thursday.
The Indian had beaten her in the Asian Championships last year. “So, I am confident but not overconfident,” she said.
Mary Kom was tied with Irish legend Katie Taylor on the number of medals won before this edition. (PTI)
