Ulan-Ude Russia: Continuing her winning momentum, India’s Manju Rani scripted history, as she became the first Indian woman boxer in 18 years to enter the finals of Women’s World Boxing Championship, in her maiden appearance.
Manju stormed to the finals with a 4-1 win over her Thai opponent Chuthamat Raksat. After reaching the finals, she has now assured herself at least a silver medal.
Other than Manju, none of the three Indian pugilists, including legendary Mary Kom, could advance to the gold-medal match.
Jamuna Boro, the other debutant, had to settle for bronze medal, after losing her women’s 54kg semi-final bout 5-0 to Huang Hsiao-Wen of Chinese Taipei.
Another Indian boxer, Lovlina Borgohain, too had to content with a second successive bronze medal at the World Championships, after the Assam boxer lost her 69kg semi-final to China’s Yang Liu in a close bout. Borgohain lost 3-2 to her Chinese opponent.
Earlier in the day, six-time world champion and Indian legend MC Mary Kom had to settle for bronze medal, after she lost in the semi-finals of the women’s 51kg category.
Mary Kom lost 1-4 in the semis against Busenaz Cakiroglu of Turkey to win her 8th medal at the World Boxing Championships, making her the most successful boxer of all time - male or female - in the competition’s history.
Mary has won six golds, one silver and a bronze, so far in her career.
Apart from six world titles, Mary Kom’s incredible career is also studded with an Olympic bronze medal (2012), five Asian titles, gold medals at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and many others. (UNI)