New Delhi, May 30 : Four-time World champion M.C. Mary Kom (46kg) and L. Sarita Devi (51kg) were assured of at least a bronze each after they eased into the semifinals of the Asian women's boxing championship in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Mary Kom defeated Sri Lanka's Anushka 6-3 and Sarita thrashed Ri Hyang Mi of North Korea 10-1 amid protests from the rival camp which alleged unfair scoring.
Heartbreak
However, it was heartbreak for Mizoram boxer Venlal Duati (48kg) who lost to China's Luo Yujie. Duati was locked 1-1 with Yujie after four rounds and the boxers' scores were found to be the same in countback as well.
The five-member judges' panel then stepped in and all of them declared Yujie as the better of the two.
The diminutive Mary Kom, who is aiming to better the silver she won in the previous edition of the event, was the first Indian boxer to step into the ring.
The 27-year-old took a 2-0 lead in the first round and stretched it to 5-1 after the third. Anushka tried to claw back in the final two minutes but it proved too little too late.
‘Tougher bout'
“It was tougher than the first round, but I have the experience to adjust according to the situation. I attacked more and caught her on counter-punches as well,” said Mary Kom.
Sarita, a gold medallist in the last edition, was even more dominant as she out-punched Mi.
With a 3-1 lead to start with, Sarita dominated the proceedings but there was some drama after the bout as the Korean team lodged a protest against what they called unfair judging.
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