India’s star woman boxer MC Mary Kom defeated Kim Hyang-Mi of North Korea in 48 kg category to clinch the gold medal at the Asian Boxing Championship in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday.
It was Mary Kom’s fifth gold medal in the continental event. Facing the Korean, the Olympic bronze-medallist Indian notched up a unanimous 5-0 verdict to add another medal to her tally.
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Earlier on Tuesday, the five-time World Champion boxer routed Japan’s Tsubasa Komura 5-0 to cruise into the 48-kg finals.
The Manipuri pugilist was making her comeback to the ring after more than a year. She used her tactical nous to the best to seal the thriller.
The 35-year-old Indian last clinched an international gold medal in the 2014 Asian Games.
Both the boxers started the bout measuring up the rivals. But the game picked up speed with Mary Kom using impressive footwork to put early pressure on Hyang Mi.
Although the match witnessed no power-hitting, the game got momentum with boxers’ fast-paced exchange of punches.
Boxing Federation of India President Ajay Singh congratulated Mary Kom, saying: “Mary Kom’s gold at the Asian Boxing Championship is a huge victory for India’s woman power. This mother of three has shown that with grit and determination you can overcome seemingly insurmountable odds.”
“I congratulate the entire Indian team for their performance in the Championship. This is a testament to all the hard work that the boxers and coaches are putting in to ensure that India becomes a boxing power in the near future,” Singh added.
(With inputs from agencies)
