POOJA RANI WINS GOLD, MARY KOM LOSES IN FINAL AT ASIAN BOXING

NEW DELHI: Defending champion Pooja Rani put up a dominating show to beat Mavluda Movlonova of Uzbekistan and retain the 75kg title in the Asian boxing championships in Dubai on Sunday. Tokyo Olympicsbound Rani attacked from the start and by the end of the third round her opponent was reeling under the barrage of punches. She won 5-0.

MC Mary Kom, 38, though came up short against twice world champion Nazym Kyzaibay of Kazakhstan, losing 2-3 on points. The six-time world champion gave it her all in the 51kg final but Kyzaibay, tall, strong and 11 years younger, landed powerful blows in the second and third rounds.

It was Kom’s second competition in the run-up to the July 23-August 8 Olympics since returning to action in January after a year, following the lockdown. Tokyo will be the second Games for the London 2012 bronze medallist. In the semi-final, Kom defeated Lutsaikhan Altantsetseg of Mongolia 4-1. The final though was tough. Kom showed early attacking intent but Kyzaibay was soon calling the shots.

The other two Tokyo-bound women boxers, Simranjit Kaur (60kg) and Lovlina Borgohain (69kg), finished with bronze medals after losing in the semis..