MC Mary Kom ensured a medal for India at the London Olympics after winning her quarterfinals match at the London Olympics. Five time world champion, Kom defeated Maroua Rahali of Tunisia 15-6 to seal a spot in the semi-finals. Though she lost to Nicola Adams, the eventual gold medal winner, she stole the heart of every Indian back home.

Kom in the match displayed all the skills that she is known for. She started the match a bit cautiously and looked to line up her opponent in the first round. After the second round Mary was leading three points to two and the third round saw Mary at her attacking best. She delivered back-to-back punches to take her lead up to 11 points to four after the third round. She kept her distance from the opponent in the fourth round to write her name in the history books.

Mary Kom has achieved almost everything in her boxing career and it was the Olympic medal that eluded her, London Olympics gave her the chance and Mary grabbed it with both hands. Anyone who knows Mary will agree that she will not be content with the bronze medal and will give it her best to win the gold medal for India.

Mary was a bit lucky to qualify for the London Olympics as she failed to win a medal at the World Championships, which was also serving as the only Olympic qualifier event for London Games.

This was the first time that woman boxing was being introduced in the Olympics and her qualification chances received a huge setback after she lost in the quarterfinals of the World Championships in Qinhuangdao, China. But things were not over for her as her fate hung by a thread and her shot at the Olympics depended on England’s Nicola Adams’ performance in the semis.
It was perhaps her destiny and luckily for India, Adams won her bout that gave Mary an Olympic quota and rest is history.

Mary Kom won the world championship five times and when she was asked that what is the difference between world championships and Olympics, she said, “ I believe the world championships is more competitive than the Olympics, as the amount of participation is far more at that level. But the fact that this is the Olympics and the first time for women’s boxing with only the selected best participating; the level of competition on offer will be top notch.”

Kom was also very confident going into the games despite a lot of pressure put on her by her fans and media, she said, “In a sportsperson’s life, pressure is always there, you have to learn to deal with it. Earlier it was the pressure of qualifying, now of performing at the games. I understand my responsibility as an Indian athlete and the expectations people have from me. You can be assured that I will give my very best at London, rest is up to God.”

Kom who has been in the sport from such a long time said that Olympic medal is what she wants and only then she will decide about her future, she said, “ I have played at every other level of the game, but the Olympics. The incentive of a medal at the biggest sporting arena in the world is what drives me. Before I hang my gloves I want to win the Olympic medal, and my performance at London will decide my future in the sport.”

Now Kom has fulfilled all the promises that she made. She has already created history by winning the first Olympic medal for India in the women’s category, which will go a long way in inspiring the young girls of the country to take up boxing and sport as whole.

By Indian Sports News Network