Asian Games: Star boxer Mary Kom storms into quarterfinals

Mary Kom

The Indian women’s boxers kickstarted their campaign in the 2014 Incheon Asian Games with a bang as star boxer MC Mary Kom stormed into the quarterfinals of the flyweight category (46-51-kg) outboxing Korea’s Kim Yeji at the Seonhak Gymnasium on Saturday. The 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist and five time world champion from Manipur, proved her supremacy over Kim in no uncertain terms, outclassing her in each of the three rounds to march into the last eight stage.

Mary next plays China’s Si Haijuan in the quarterfinals on Sunday and if she crosses that hurdle, she is assured of a bronze medal. L Sarita Devi and Pooja Rani are the other two women boxers in the fray.

Indian boxers will be looking to put on a stellar performance after capping a splendid effort at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, where they won five medals including four silver medals and a bronze – they created history as for the first time four Indians reached the final of the Commonwealth Games.

Three Indians – L Devendro Singh, Shiva Thapa and Kuldeep Singh have progressed to the next round in the men’s section, while Akhil Kumar, Maoj Kumar and Amritpreet Singh crashed out of medal contention.

2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games silver medallist Mandeep Jangra will play in the welterweight category (69-kg), while Gautam Bhiduri will feature in the flyweight category (52-kg). 2010 Asiad gold medallist Vikas Krishnan will play in the middleweight category (75-kg), Satish Kumar will fight in the super heavyweight category (+91-kg).