For a few hours here on Sunday, the Seonhak Gymnasium was taken over by the Indians. Their big star Mary Kom, a multiple world champion and an Olympic bronze medallist, was fighting for a medal and they had all come to cheer her.
The gutsy Mary Kom, already a legend back home, did not disappoint them. She defeated her young challenger, China’s 20-year-old Si Haijuan by an unanimous points verdict and entered the women’s boxing flyweight semifinals at the 17th Asian Games which assured her of at least a bronze.
Later, L. Sarita Devi also assured herself of a medal after prevailing over Mongolian Erdene Suvd Oyungerel in a close contest. Pooja Rani out-punched Shen Dara Flora of Chinese Taipei in her quarterfinal bout.
Mary began with a flurry of punches, making the most of the first two minutes. Si, clearly aware that she had handed over the early initiative to her seasoned opponent, lowered her guard in the next round, almost luring Mary to go for the kill. The plan was to invite Mary into her parlour and then give her a few hard knocks when she came close.
Si was light on her feet and danced around the Indian nicely in the third round but Mary landed a right hook to the head which rattled the Chinese. She also came up with a wily combination that brought her the points.
Si looked a shade better than the Indian in the final round. And she frequently tried to go for Mary’s bread basket. Mary appeared a bit tired and sensing this, Si tried to get in a flurry of quick punches. But Mary bobbed and weaved and stayed out of danger.
“It was a high pressure bout but Mary boxed intelligently,” said national coach G.S. Sandhu. “This girl beat the Chinese world champion in the selection trials, so it was expected to be very tough and it’s good that she has now entered the medal category. The medal is assured now but let’s not talk about bronze, there are three colours there.”
Devendro Singh (49kg), the lone Indian male boxer in fray on Sunday, took just 87 seconds to beat Laos’ Lasavongsy Bounphone by TKO and enter the quartefinals.
The results
Women: Quarterfinals: Flyweight: Mary Kom bt Si Haijuan (Chn) on pts. Lightweight: L. Sarita Devi bt Erdene Suvd Oyungerel (Mgl) on pts. Middleweight: Pooja Rani bt Shen Dara Flora (Tpe) on pts..
Men: Pre-quarterfinals: Light-flyweight: Devendro Singh bt Lasavongsy Bounphone (Lao) by TKO.
