MC Mary Kom will aim for a historic sixth gold at the AIBA Women’s World Championships, the build-up of which has been marred by a row over lone Kosovan boxer’s participation and poor quality air in the national capital.
Mary Kom and Mira Potkonen during a press meet ahead of the World Boxing Championships
New Delhi:
Mary, who will fight in the 48 kg, will also look to win her second gold in front of the home crowd. She has enjoyed a stellar year so far, claiming gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, the inaugural India Open and the International Tournament in Poland. However, the 2012 Olympics bronze medalist is aware that the road to gold will not be easy.
“There are boxers who are still playing in my category since 2001. I know them very well. The new boxers are tougher and smarter, they are faster. I will use my experience. The past boxers are more or less the same,” said Mary. Another veteran who will be seeking her second gold at the championships will be L Sarita Devi who will feature in 60kg. She has five Asian titles besides winning gold in 2006 here.
The other eight in the team are Pinky Jangra (51 Kg), Manisha Maun (54 Kg), Sonia (57 Kg), Simranjit Kaur (64 Kg), Lovlina Borgohain (69 Kg), Saweety Boora (75 Kg), Bhagyabati Kachari (81 Kg) and Seema Poonia (+81 Kg). The 10-day championships, which run till November 24, will feature a host of Olympic and World Championship medalists.
Italy’s Alessia Mesiano will be defending the featherweight title she won two years ago, while 2016 silver medalists Kaye Scott of Australia, Thai Peamwilai Laopeam and Russia’s Anastasiia Beliakova are gold medal contenders. Other gold medal contenders include Virginia Fuchs (51 kg) of United States, Lin Yu Ting (54 kg) of Chinese Taipei, Yin Junhua (57 kg) of China, Mira Potkonen (60 kg) of Finland, Gu Hong (69 kg) of China, Nouchka Fontijn (75 kg) of the Netherlands, Wang Lina (81 kg) and defending champion Yang Xiaoli (+81 kg), both from China.
The 10th edition of the championships is set to be the biggest-ever, with more than 300 participants from 72 countries. India is hosting the championships for the second time after 2006, when the country topped the table with eight medals (4 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze). The 10-member Indian team is unlikely to repeat the 2006 feat, but is expecting at least three medals, including a gold. The 35-year-old Mary Kom, who is India’s biggest hope, is tied with Katie Taylor on five gold medals and one more will make her the most successful woman boxer in history as the Irish pugilist has turned a Pro.
Mary, who will fight in the 48 kg, will also look to win her second gold in front of the home crowd. She has enjoyed a stellar year so far, claiming gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, the inaugural India Open and the International Tournament in Poland. However, the 2012 Olympics bronze medalist is aware that the road to gold will not be easy.
“There are boxers who are still playing in my category since 2001. I know them very well. The new boxers are tougher and smarter, they are faster. I will use my experience. The past boxers are more or less the same,” said Mary. Another veteran who will be seeking her second gold at the championships will be L Sarita Devi who will feature in 60kg. She has five Asian titles besides winning gold in 2006 here.
The other eight in the team are Pinky Jangra (51 Kg), Manisha Maun (54 Kg), Sonia (57 Kg), Simranjit Kaur (64 Kg), Lovlina Borgohain (69 Kg), Saweety Boora (75 Kg), Bhagyabati Kachari (81 Kg) and Seema Poonia (+81 Kg). The 10-day championships, which run till November 24, will feature a host of Olympic and World Championship medalists.
Italy’s Alessia Mesiano will be defending the featherweight title she won two years ago, while 2016 silver medalists Kaye Scott of Australia, Thai Peamwilai Laopeam and Russia’s Anastasiia Beliakova are gold medal contenders. Other gold medal contenders include Virginia Fuchs (51 kg) of United States, Lin Yu Ting (54 kg) of Chinese Taipei, Yin Junhua (57 kg) of China, Mira Potkonen (60 kg) of Finland, Gu Hong (69 kg) of China, Nouchka Fontijn (75 kg) of the Netherlands, Wang Lina (81 kg) and defending champion Yang Xiaoli (+81 kg), both from China.