Mary Kom clinches fifth gold medal at Asian Boxing Championship

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The redoubtable M C Mary Kom (48kg) notched up her fifth gold medal at the Asian Women's Boxing Championships, winning a fiercely-contested summit clash today.

Up against North Korea's Kim Hyang Mi, the five-time world champion and Olympic bronze-medallist Indian prevailed in a unanimous 5-0 verdict to add another accolade to her already crowded cabinet.

This is Mary Kom's first international gold medal since the 2014 Asian Games and her first medal in over a year.

In Hyang Mi, the 35-year-old Mary Kom found her most aggressive opponent so far in the tournament but she was up for the task.

Unlike her previous bouts, in which the opening three minutes were invariably spent measuring up the rival, both the boxers were lunging at each other within seconds of the bell going off.

Matched quite evenly in speed and precision, Mary Kom scored for her ringcraft, which included some fine footwork to outpace Hyang Mi at crucial junctures.

There was hardly any power-hitting on display but the contest was made engaging by the boxers' fast-paced exchange of punches.

The North Korean was relentless with her left hooks but the Manipuri did not allow herself to be rattled and scored on counter-attack with her combination blows.

Five-time world champion and Olympic bronze-medallist M C Mary Kom has become the first Indian to be picked as the International Boxing Association's (AIBA) representative for the IOC Athletes' Forum scheduled in November.

The 33-year-old, who is also an active parliamentarian, has been invited to attend the 8th International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Athletes' Forum in Lausanne from November 11 to 13.

"This bi-annual forum brings together athlete representatives from across the Olympic Movement and provides an in-person community where athletes can exchange and discuss their viewpoint," the AIBA wrote in its invitation letter to the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) President Ajay Singh.

"In this respect, we would like to designate Ms Mary Kom to attend the forum as AIBA representative," the letter stated.

The event, however, overlaps with the Asian Championship in Vietnam, which is scheduled from November 2 to 12.

If Mary Kom is selected for the tournament after trials later this month, her participation at the IOC event would become uncertain.

Among the most decorated athletes in Indian sports, Mary Kom is an Asian Games gold-medallist besides being a multiple-time Asian champion.

She has conferred the AIBA Legends award at the annual gala of the world body last year.

The Manipuri, who competes in the light flyweight (48kg) and flyweight (51kg) divisions, was christened 'Magnificent Mary' by AIBA after her fourth world title back in 2008.

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