Historic Fifth World Championship Title for MaryKom

‘Magnificent Mary’ as she is popularly known in AIBA Boxing Circles lived up to her reputation by winning the World Women’s Boxing Championship Title in the 48 kgs for a record fifth time by defeating Duta Steluta of Romania on points 16:6. This was the third time that MC Marykom, mother of two children and hailing from Manipur, has fought against Duta Steluta of Romania and Mary has come out victorious on all three occasions. Incidentally Marykom is the only woman boxer in the World to have won medals in all the Six World Women’s Boxing Championships so far. In the inaugural World Championship in 2001, Marykom had to be contented with a Silver Medal in the 48 kgs cat. However in the next four World Championships she played and won Gold Medals in the 46 kgs wt cat. This year the 46 kgs cat was dropped in Women’s Boxing by AIBA and the lowest wt cat was made as 48 kgs and Marykom has again stamped her authority in this wt class.

The Indian Women’s Boxing Team will return to India on 21 September 2010 early morning with a World Champion (Marykom 48 kgs) and a Bronze Medalist (Kavita Chahal +81 kgs) in their midst. It was unfortunate that the other pugilists could not make much headway in this World Championship due to tremendous competition in all Wt Cats, moreso since AIBA has announced the inclusion of Women’s Boxing in London Olympic Games 2012. The Olympic Council of Asia followed suit and announced the introduction of Women’s Boxing in Asian Games Guangzhou in November 2010 in three wt cats ie. 51 kgs, 60 kgs & 75 kgs. This years World Women’s Boxing Championships saw a record number of 65 countries participating. The style of boxing has also changed drastically in that AIBA has directed its Referees & Judges to punish those indulging in Passive Boxing or Running around after taking a slender lead. Therefore this year’s World Championships saw some tremendous bouts of aggressive and skillful boxing with feminine charm and grace coupled with raw power in the punches. It was indeed a treat to watch the Women Boxers trading punch for punch with precision and timing. Having witnessed the Women Boxer’s in action and noticing that a lot of changes are required in Indian Boxer’s techniques if we are to continue to do well at World level Championships, we have contacted six International Boxing Coaches of repute from Countries such as USA, Canada, Russia, Ukraine, Ireland etc to be part of a Coaches Seminar that Indian Boxing Federation is proposing to hold in India in the third week of January 2011 wherein 40 Indian Coaches will also be invited. This will be primarily for the benefit of improving the knowledge and skill of the Indian Coaches at grassroot level so that they are aware of the latest techniques and methodology being adopted by those producing World Champions in tune with the latest AIBA Rules of scoring.