Mary Kom loses Boxing Worlds semis, disputes decision

The six-time champion lost to reigning European Championships and European Games gold-medallist Busenaz Cakiroglu.

Despite this loss, it was a stupendous campaign for the 36-year-old Mary Kom and added to her long list of accomplishments. This bronze is her first world medal in the 51kg category.

Six-time champion M C Mary Kom (51kg) on Saturday settled for a bronze medal in the World Women’s Boxing Championships after losing to Turkey’s Busenaz Cakiroglu in an intense semifinal bout here.

Mary Kom, seeded third, lost 1-4 to second seed Cakiroglu, who is the reigning European Championships and European Games gold-medallist.

The Olympian was clearly unhappy with the decision when announced and immediately tweeted out her disappointment.

How and why. Let the world know how much right and wrong the decision is....https://t.co/rtgB1f6PZy. @KirenRijiju@PMOIndia

— Mary Kom (@MangteC) October 12, 2019

As per AIBA's instruction, India raised a Yellow Card, disputing the decision. According to the regulation, protests will granted only if scores read 3:1 or 3:2. India's appeal has been turned down as a result and the decision on the tie's result will remain the same.

Both the boxers seemed hesitant to make the first move in the opening round but Mary Kom had the edge in counter-attacks as Cakiroglu struggled to make her height advantage count.

READ : World Boxing C'ships semifinal: Mary Kom: as it happened

The second round followed a similar pattern as far as the tactics went but Cakiroglu seemed the sharper of the two. She also had better pace on her side.

In the final three minutes, both the boxers upped the ante but Cakiroglu became the dominant aggressor eventually.

Despite this loss, it was a stupendous campaign for the 36-year-old Mary Kom and added to her long list of accomplishments. This bronze is her first world medal in the 51kg category.

Besides 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 and the Commonwealth Games, besides numerous other international top finishes.

Later in the evening session, Manju Rani (48kg) will be up against Thailand’s Chuthamat Raksat, who upstaged fifth seed Yuliyanova Asenova in the quarterfinals.

Jamuna Boro (54kg) will take on top seed and former Asian Games bronze-medallist Huang Hsiao-Wen of Chinese Taipei.

Last edition’s bronze-medallist Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) will face China’s Yang Liu, who took down top seed Chen Nien-Chin.