Incheon: Five-time world boxing champion Mary Kom clinched gold in the Women’s 48-51 kg flyweight division at the Asian Games. This is the first time she has won the Asian Games gold medal She defeated Zhaina Shekerbekova of Kazakhstan.
Mary’s experience was the difference in the cat and mouse bout between the pugilists of India and Kazakhstan. The 31-year-old Indian’ strategy to study her opponents first and then go for the kill lead to her victory as she came back from behind to win the last two rounds. Â
‘Supermom’ was in fine form and her speed and guile was just too much to handle for the Kazakhstan fighter.Â
“Our preparation has been good so far and we are looking forward to the games. I am definitely aiming for gold medal and a bronze will certainly not suffice this time,” she had said days before leaving for Incheon. The determination was as much in her punches as in her words.
This victory takes India’s gold tally to 7 with 8 silver and 32 bronze. Â
To ensure the hardships she faced as a young boxer did not discourage others, she started the Mary Kom Boxing Academy in Manipur’s capital Imphal which provides free training to underprivileged children.
Mary is one of India’s most decorated women having won the country’s highest sporting award, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, in 2009 followed by the third highest civilian award, the Padma Bhushan, in 2013.