Mary Kom beats Maroua Rahali - assured of a medal

India is happy as we are hearing more of Mary Kom.  M C Mary Kom  created history a few minutes ago, as she assured India its 4^th Olympic medal after winning her quarterfinal boxing bout against Maroua Rahali of Tunisia by 15-6 margin in the women’s 51 kg category.

Earlier,  Russia's Elena Savelyeva and Hye Song Kim  created history as they became  the first female boxers to compete at an Olympic Games.  Women's boxing first appeared in the Olympic Games at a demonstration bout in 1902. For most of the twentieth century, however, it was banned in most nations. Its revival was pioneered by the Swedish Amateur Boxing Association, which sanctioned events for women in 1988. Women's boxing was not featured at the 2008 Olympics; however, on 14 August 2009, it was announced that the International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board (EB) had approved the inclusion of women’s boxing for the Games in London in the 2012 Olympics.

Thus Mary Kom got this opportunity.  Today, her opponent from Tunisia was taller and t years younger, still Kom used her experience as the Nation stood behind her, wanting her to move up.  The 29-year-old boxer stormed into the semifinals of London Olympics as she routed her Tunisian opponent Maroua Rahali 15-6 in the quarterfinal match of 51kg boxing category.

Mary was on the defensive side in the first two rounds which she won 2-1, 3-2 respectively. In the third round, the crowd got to see the better of Mary Kom as she thumped back-to-back punches at her opponent who was taken by surprise.  With this victory, India are now confirmed of another bronze medal but the way Kom has been performing in her first Olympics,  Indians are looking to forward to the glittering Gold itself.

She  enjoys iconic status in the North-East India,  and Manipuri woman, who is mother of twin boys will surely encourage many more from  North East and all other parts of India  to take up the sport.  Today, a couple of right hooks followed by a lethal left hook was enough to soften up the big bodied Tunisian girl who was trying to use her long reach to keep her Indian opponent at bay.

Unlike other formats, here, the  winners of the two semi-finals compete for the gold medal. The losers of the semi-finals are each awarded a bronze.  So Mary Kom, keep it up……. India expects more from you

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.

6^th Aug 2012 @ 7.45 pm.