Mary Kom, Kavita strike gold at 3rd Asian Indoor Games

Hanoi, Nov 4 : Four-time world champion MC Mary Kom (46kg) and Kavita Goyat (64kg) bagged gold medals while their fellow Indians L Sarita Devi and N Usha won a silver medal each in the women's boxing event at the third Asian Indoor Asian Games here today.

In a close, hardfought bout, Mary Kom overcame local pugilist Hoa Nguyen Thi 8-6.

Mary Kom used all her experience against the rejuvenated Thi and drew first blood in the opening round to take a 1-0 lead.

In the second round, both boxers scored two points each with Indian leading the bout 3-2.

Again in the third round, both pugilists matched each other punch for punch and accumulated three points each.

Going into the final round with a 6-5 lead, Mary Kom scored two valuable points against her rival's nil to make the score 8-6 and win the bout.

In another bout, Kavita beat Khassenova Saida of Kazakhstan 8-4.

Kavita scored two important points to lead 2-0 after the first round.

In the second round, both boxers earned two points each to make the score 4-2.

Saida came back strongly in the third round and narrowed the margin to 4-5.

The Indian, however, came out all guns blazing in the final round and bagged three more points without conceding any to win the bout.

In the 54 kg finals, Sarita Devi lost to Qin Zhang of China 7-9 while Usha (57kg) suffered a 2-3 defeat at the hands of Peamwilai Laopeam of Thailand.

Meanwhlie, the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) conferred an 'AIBA Special Award' on Mary Kom for her outstanding contribution to women's boxing.

The award was presented by Nieva Embuldeniya from Sri Lanka, the Technical Delegate of this Championship and also the AIBA Executive Committee Member from Asia.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
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