‘NEXT TARGET OLYMPIC GOLD’
Medals do matter for MC Mary Kom. After winning her maiden Commonwealth Games gold, the boxing legend said she still has some unfinished business – winning the Olympic gold medal.
“I have won everything (the sport has to offer) and all of them (medals) are very important. Do I need to say more? Which other boxer can claim that, now I would not be scared of anyone. I am very happy that I made history, I have got everything,” Mary Kom said, after winning the final against Kristina O’hara.
“I still think about Olym- Games boxing.
Starting as the favourite because of her experience and superior technique, Mary Kom fought well against an opponent she had sparred with and also played practice matches.
She knew Kristina O’hara’s game well and used the knowledge to win 5-0. “It was a good experience for me, but anything can happen in the ring. I had to be confident that I could do my best as my opponent was competitive. My country will be very proud and I have to thank God and my coaches,” said Mark Kom.
Solanki impressed by winning the men’s 52kg as he defeated Brendan Irvine 4-1 on points in a split decision. It was a close contest but Solanki managed to get a favourable verdict with some good combination of punches.
He was aggressive and went on the attack in the first two rounds during which he was injured when his opponent’s elbow opened a cut on the head. pic gold because other than that I have got everything. Even in Olympics, I do have a medal (bronze). I haven’t left out anything,” said Mary Kom.
Asked whether she was thinking of getting the elusive Olympic gold in Tokyo in 2020, Mary said: “2020 is difficult to say, but I will try my best. 48kg (her weight class) is not there and I will have to put on weight, which is never easy.”
Anything can happen in the ring. I had to be confident that I could do my best as my opponent was competitive.
MARY KOM, On her victory
Nevertheless, Solanki kept up the pressure in the third round.
Vikas was triumphant against Cameroon’s Dieucdonne Wilfried Sevinisengue in the men’s 75kg class as he outwitted his opponent 5-0.
Three other Indian pugilists were in the final but lost to their opponents – Amit and Manish Kaushik going down on split decision in closely-fought matches.
Manish lost to local hope Harry Garside 3-2 as he could not make up for the height and reach disadvantage.
The performance gives hope to India as they have some tough competition ahead in the Asian Games and World Champion
ships later this year. All finals - Men’s javelin throw: Neeraj Chopra 1st, 86.47m; Vipin Kasana 5th, 77.87m; Men’s triple jump: Arpinder Singh 4th, 16.46m; Men’s 1500m: Jinson Johnson 5th, 3:37.86 secs; Men’s 4x400m relay: India DNF; Women’s 4x400m relay: India 7th, 3:33.61 secs GOLD COAST: Neeraj
Chopra was competing against himself in javelin throw on Saturday. I n a depleted field, it is easy to lose focus and get overconfident – lack of competition making one complacent. Neeraj did not allow any of this as he won gold. It was only the fifth gold India have won in track and field after joining Milkha Singh (1958), Krishna Poonia (2010), the women’s 4x400m relay team (2010) and Vikas Gowda (2014).
This is only the second medal in javelin that India have won at the Commonwealth Games after Kashinath Naik, who claimed bronze at New Delhi in 2010.
Though the former junior world champion and Asian titlist was happy with the feat, the 20-year-old was not satisfied with his performance. He missed getting to his personal best by a centimeter, and that kept bothering him. He managed to win gold comfortably with a throw of 86.47m, which was his season’s best. But in his eagerness to achieve his personal best, the youngster from Haryana made a mistake.
Neeraj was the favourite to win gold after Kenya’s Julius Yego, the Olympic and Worlds silver medallist, failed to qualify for the final. After fouling his biggest throw, the Kenyan could not achieve the qualifica- tion mark of 78.00m.
Neeraj made the qualifying mark in his first throw and in the final nailed it with 85.50m on his first attempt as none in the fray came anywhere close to his mark. In his fourth attempt, he touched 86.47. Australia’s Hamish Peacock finished second with 82.50 while Grenada’s Andersan Peters took bronze with 82.20m.
‘IMPORTANT MEDAL’
“It is a very important medal for me and I am happy to win. I wanted to touch my personal best and missed it by a centimetre. In my desperation to get there, I tried so hard that I tumbled in my last two attempts. But I have lot of competition this year to achieve the personal best,” Neeraj said.
Neeraj was happy to achieve a big one on his first throw.
“It makes a lot of difference when you manage to get a first throw like that. It builds pressure on others. As for me, I was not under pressure, I was wellprepared,” he said.
For support, Neeraj had friend Vinesh Phogat in the stands before the wrestler went to the adjacent Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre to win gold.