Mary wins record sixth world title ...Pleads for 48kg at Tokyo 2020
MAGNIFICENT 35yearold turns the clock back with first title in eight years, Sonia settles for silver
NEWDELHI: khud hi ice lagana padta tha (used to get hit and then had to ice myself),” she had said.
Life changed for Mary with the London Olympics bronze. Despite being a mother to three kids, boxing has remained her first love. She came back to the sport last year and was ready for the rollercoaster ride again; she wanted to win the title again at home, in front of her own people.
It was different from 2006 when she had won her third title here. Mary was young, still a work in progress. She is now 35, an icon in the sport. Her reputation follows her. In the ring, she knew she would face opponents who have grown up idolising her. They have speed and hunger, but Mary was up for it.
Through her four bouts, Mary’s boxing hardly showed chinks; they reflected years of experience. She has toyed with opponents, changed her strategies, known when to take a step back after being hit. She has battled on.
She worked tirelessly for that one final moment which she embraced on Saturday. She entered to a thunderous applause, muttered a silent prayer to her blue side and was ready.
Mary beat Hanna recently in Poland, but the stake here was bigger. Mary was like a crafty swordsman, stepping in with sharp jabs and stepping back as Hanna launched a vicious counterattack.
Hanna was superior in the second round, her combinations on target. But Mary was all attack in the third round. She launched a flurry of punches, especially towards the end when Hanna taunted her to attack. The outcome left the crowd and Mary enthralled.
She is not stopping. “I am still dreaming,” she said. So is the entire nation. NEWDELHI: Mary Kom once again showed on Saturday that when it comes to boxing lowest weight division, she owns the ring. Her record over almost two decades testify to that.
After winning gold in style with the home fans chanting her name, an Mary Kom, 35, was ready to battle on until 2020 Tokyo. Overcome by emotion, she acknowledged that a realistic bid at achieving her dream of an Olympic gold is possible only if 48kg is included.
She won 51kg bronze at the 2012 London Games, but didn’t qualify for the Rio Games.
She has won all her world medals in 45-48kg categories but 48kg is not an Olympic division. Mary has repeatedly spoken about her problem in adding weight to compete in 51kg, to face bigger and stronger rivals. She will also have to box in 51kg at next year’s World Championships in Russia.
“There is no 48kg in the Olympics. I have to jump to the other category. For the effort (adding weight, building power, etc) is very challenging. Because of your love and support I was able to qualify for the 2012 Olympics and win a medal. I will try to qualify for Tokyo 2020,” a tearyeyed Mary said after victory.
Mary’s fifth world gold came in Barbados in 2010, and after that she began preparations to shift to 51kg for London. But when it comes to 48kg, Mary has showed here that she is still the best. Her Commonwealth Games gold in April also came in 48kg.
“I was not able to qualify for Rio and (my) category is not in the Olympics. I’m still suffering. In 51kg, height (dis)advantage is also there,” she said in her ringside interview.
But 2020 Tokyo is on her mind. “I am still dreaming. I won bronze in London Olympics. As an athlete, as a boxer, I want to win gold medal for my country.”
India coach Raffaelle Bergamasco said he was happy with the performance. “Mary is a legend but the other girls are improving step by step. We will be looking to get some berths in Tokyo Olympics,”he said.
Maria Kovacs (Hungary, W) 2