(NOV 18)  We can spend hours talking about the achievements in the ring of one of the best ever women boxers, if not the best. MC Mary Kom has seen her hand raised in all major international boxing events, clinching an astonishing number of medals that includes five gold at AIBA World Championships, a bronze at the London 2012 Olympic Games, five gold at the Asian Championships and one gold medal at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.

At 35 and coming back from a short break on her career, Magnificent Mary is now looking to repeat her 2006 New Delhi World Championships gold medal, but this time in front of her family. “The feeling of walking to the ring and seeing a packed arena cheering my name is just impressive. At the very first moment, I have a second where the idea of losing and disappoint all these people crossed my mind. But it went really quickly, their support has helped me to perform even better.”

“Unfortunately, my two elder kids have travelled today to Spain with the school and will not be able to see me here. But the youngest one was here for the first time today. He doesn’t understand yet boxing, but he always say ‘My mom is a champion’”, says an extremely smiley Mary after defeating Kazakhstan’s Aigerim Kassenayeva in her first appearance at the Indira Ghandi Sport Complex.

In 2001, the USA’s city of Scranton witnessed the first edition of the AIBA Women’s World Championships, and Mary was already there. At only 18 she was able to sail every bout until the Finals where Mary lost against Turkey’s Hulya Sahin. “Women’s boxing has changed a lot in the last 20 years. AIBA has made a strong effort to develop the competition structure helping the athletes to achieve their dream to compete at the Olympic Games. But the work is not done yet, we need more weight categories in the Olympics and we need to keep focusing on the grassroots level to develop new stars. Here in India, the National Federation is doing a great job. The President and the whole staff is really closed to the team and they are helping us in a daily basis.”

It’s safe to say that MC Mary Kom has been and is an inspiration for millions of girls and boys around the World who are willing to step in the ring. But this seems not to be enough for Mary, she is now involved in lots of projects outside of the four ropes as a way to give back to society.

“I owe all what I am to boxing. Thanks to my efforts in the ring I have achieved so many things in life and now I feel that it is time to use my position to help others. I am really honored with the nomination to the Indian Parliament. Being part of such a big and influential institution allows me to help more people and have a real impact in the community. I am not a politician, but I know how to differentiate the good from the bad. One of the really interesting projects we have right now is the fight against cancer. We are working to increase the access to health from the most disadvantaged among us.”

#     #     #     #

First AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships quarter-finalists revealed as Day 4 comes to a close with India’s superstar Mary Kom entering the ring

The fourth day of the 2018 AIBA Women’s World Championships took place in New Delhi on Sunday, confirming the line-ups of the quarter-finals in the Light Fly (48kg), Bantam (54kg), Light (60kg), Welter (69kg), Light Heavy (81kg) and Heavy (81+kg) categories, as 40 athletes closed in on gold. Among the favorite in action, India’s superstar MC Mary Kom set a statement looking strong in the light fly (48kg) category, in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

THREE ROUNDS FROM DAY 4

Round 1: Romanian veteran boxer Steluta Duta back in Delhi
In 2006, Romania’s light flyweight (48kg) Steluta Duta competed at the AIBA Women’s World Championships in Delhi claiming a silver medal. Twelve years later, she is back here, for the same tournament and one step away on securing her fourth medal at the World stage, after claiming silver three times. We are only a couple of bouts away to see Duta facing her classic rival India’s MC Mary Kom in what can be a throwback to the 2006, 2008, and 2010 Finals.

Round 2: Led by MC Mary Kom, the new generation of Indian boxers steal the show in Delhi
The Indira Ghandi Sport Complex saw AIBA Legend MC Mary Kom stepping on the ring for the very first time and, inspired by one of Indian most famous sportswomen of all times, the new generation of Indian talent was able to negotiate tricky bouts against previous World Champions. Bantam (54kg) Manisha Moun defeated defending champion Kazakhstan’s Dina Zholaman, with a world-class performance and her teammate Lovlina Borgohain also secured an impressive win against 2014 gold medalist Panama’s Atheyna Bylon in the Welter (69kg) category. The crowd was even louder when MC Mary Kom won her Light Fly (48kg) bout against Kazakh Aigerim Kassenayeva, ensuring her place in the quarter-finals and getting closer to make history again.

Round 3: Chinese Taipei’s strong squad shines on Day 4
Day 4 saw Chinese Taipei’s first ever women Olympian Nien-Chin Chen shinning in her bout against number one seeded Finland’s Elina Gustafsson. The Welter (69kg) boxer displayed some captivating movements in a thrilling bout, securing her place in between the last 16 where she will meet Canada’s Myriam Da Silva Rondeau for a place on the podium of the 2018 AIBA Women’s World Championships. Her victory was followed by Yu-Ting Lin’s, who defeated Ukraine’s Ivanna Krupenia in the Bantamweight (54kg).