Boxer Mary Kom bowed out of World Championships 2019 after losing her 51kg semifinal bout against Turkey’s European Champion Busenaz Cakiroglu via a split verdict 1:4 at Ulan-Ude, in Russia, on Saturday. This is the eight Worlds medal for the Indian pugilist, as she adds a bronze medal to her previous tally of six gold and a silver.
Both the boxers seemed hesitant to make the first move in the opening round but Mary Kom had the edge in counter-attacks as Cakiroglu struggled to make her height advantage count.
India have appealed the decision as disappointed Mary Kom took to Twitter to question the decision. Tagging Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, Mary Kom wrote: “How and why. Let the world know how much right and wrong the decision is…”
The second round followed a similar pattern as far as the tactics went but Cakiroglu seemed the sharper of the two. In the final three minutes, both the boxers upped the ante but Cakiroglu became the dominant aggressor eventually.
The Manipuri, in terms of number of medals won, has become numero uno across both the men’s and women’s world championships. Cuban icon Felix Savon is the most successful in the men’s event with seven medals — six gold and a silver.
The Six-time champion Mary Kom had beaten Colombia’s Valencia Victoria in her quarterfinal bout to secure her maiden world medal in the 51kg category, in which she won an Olympic medal back in 2012.
After reaching the semis, she spoke about her desire to go for gold in the 51kg category, in which she will be competing at Tokyo Olympics next year. “I know a lot is expected of me, I would give my all, the job is only half done. I hope to get a gold,” she had said.
After reaching the semis, she spoke about her desire to go for gold in the 51kg category, in which she will be competing at Tokyo Olympics next year.
Later in the day, World Championship debutant Manju Rani will face Thailand’s Raksat Chuthamat in 48 kg semifinal. It will be followed by Jamuna Boro’s 54 kg semifinal bout against Taiwan’s Hsiao-Wen Huang. In India’s final bout of the day, Lovlina Borgohain will face off against China’s Liu Yang in 69 kg semifinal.