Mary Kom leads India’s pursuit of gold at Worlds
medal haul is the same as last time but four Indian boxers, spearheaded by the indomitable MC Mary Kom, would be fighting to better the colour of those medals in the semi-finals of the Women’s World Championships here on Saturday.
The third seeded Mary Kom (51kg), assured of an unparalleled eighth world medal, would be aiming for a seventh gold and standing in her way in the semis is Turkey’s European champion and second seed Busenaz Cakiroglu. Besides six world titles, Mary Kom’s incredible career is also studded with an Olympic bronze (2012), five Asian titles, gold medals at Asian and Commonwealth Games, besides numerous other international top finishes.
The spotlight will also be on two impressive debutants— Manju Rani (48kg) and Jamuna Boro—besides last edition’s bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain (69kg). “All of them have performed exceptionally well. We are keeping our fingers crossed for all of them to reach the final,” said national coach Mohammed Ali Qamar, India’s first Commonwealth Games gold medallist in boxing.
All of them have tough opponents lined up but they have been completely unfazed by the prospect of going up against a strong challenger. “One can never be satisfied. We are happy that our performance hasn’t dipped since the 2018 edition but it is a bit disappointing that we couldn’t better it. We could have had six semi-finalists but for a couple of close losses,” said Qamar.
One of the most outstanding performers this time has been Manju Rani. The boxer from Haryana, who didn’t get a break in her home state, claimed the national title by competing for Punjab and came into national camp only this year. “She has been unstoppable. She has made every one of her opportunity and that includes a silver at Strandja Memorial (one of Europe’s oldest boxing tournaments),” Qamar said.
Her next opponent is Thai Chuthamat Raksat, who upstaged fifth seed Yuliyanova Asenova in the quarter-finals.
Boro, an Assam Rifles employee whose mother worked as a vegetable vendor to support her dreams, is another one to have impressed. The 22-year-old will take on top seed Huang Hsiao-Wen of Chinese Taipei.
Borgohain is more seasoned and will face China’s Yang Liu, who shocked top seed Chen Nien-Chin.