Mery Kom wins gold at Commonwealth Games
GOLD COAST, Australia (AP) – Mery Kom is back on the international stage in boxing.
The mother of three and now politician in India made a successful return to the ring at a major multi-sports event on Saturday. She beat Kristina O'Hara of Northern Ireland in a 5-0 unanimous decision in the gold medal match in the 45-48 kilogram division at the Commonwealth Games.
Kom, 35, is a former five-time world amateur champion who won a bronze medal in the 51-kilogram division at the London Olympics in 2012, but failed to qualify for the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016.
She competed in the Asian championships last November in the first stage of a comeback and won gold.
"Even my sports minister came to cheer me on, my country will be very proud," said Kom, who is a member of Upper House in India's Parliament.
She said she may give the Olympics another attempt – "if I am fit enough, I will go for Tokyo 2020."
"My dreams are not fulfilled yet because (no) Olympic gold medal," she said. "So if my body allows, I will go."
O'Hara said she was "quite proud" of her performance.
"But at the end of the day she (Kom) is a wellknown boxer, a credit to her country, so the greatest of respect to her," O'Hara said.
New Zealand clinched the women's field hockey gold medal with an upset 4-1 win over Australia, while England beat India 6-0 for bronze. Australia had won gold at four of the last five Commonwealth Games since Kuala Lumpur in 1998.
New Zealand led 3-0 before the Australians scored with 12 minutes left. Australia pulled its goalkeeper with eight minutes left, but the New Zealanders clinched the match when they scored from a penalty corner with four minutes on the clock.