New Delhi: MC Mary Kom won her fifth Asian Boxing Championship gold medal - first in the 48kg category - by defeating Korea's Kim Hyang Mi in the summit clash on Wednesday at Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. The five-time world champion and Olympic bronze-medallist won in a unanimous 5-0 verdict.
However, world championship silver-medallist, Sonia Lathar, had to be content with a runner-up finish for the second time at this event after she went down in a split verdict to China's Yin Junhua in the final of the 57kg category. India thus signed off with a gold, a silver and five bronze medals at the tournament.
Having been away from the boxing ring for a long period, this was the first time in five years that Mary Kom returned to her favourite 48-kg category and emerged victorious. It was Mary Kom's first international gold medal since the 2014 Asian Games and her first medal in more than a year.
In the semifinal on Tuesday, Mary Kom had started the day brightly for India, defeating Japan's Tsubasa Komura, also in a unanimous 5-0 verdict to make the final for the fifth time in her six appearances at the event.
Ahead of the clash, Mary Kom had expressed her desire to return to India with a gold medal. "I am really happy the way this Championship has panned out. I would like to dedicate this victory to all those who have supported me even though the world had written me off. I would like to thank my coaching staff who worked hard with me over the last few months," Mary Kom said after her win.
However, world championship silver-medallist, Sonia Lathar, had to be content with a runner-up finish for the second time at this event after she went down in a split verdict to China's Yin Junhua in the final of the 57kg category. India thus signed off with a gold, a silver and five bronze medals at the tournament.
Having been away from the boxing ring for a long period, this was the first time in five years that Mary Kom returned to her favourite 48-kg category and emerged victorious. It was Mary Kom's first international gold medal since the 2014 Asian Games and her first medal in more than a year.
In the semifinal on Tuesday, Mary Kom had started the day brightly for India, defeating Japan's Tsubasa Komura, also in a unanimous 5-0 verdict to make the final for the fifth time in her six appearances at the event.
Ahead of the clash, Mary Kom had expressed her desire to return to India with a gold medal. "I am really happy the way this Championship has panned out. I would like to dedicate this victory to all those who have supported me even though the world had written me off. I would like to thank my coaching staff who worked hard with me over the last few months," Mary Kom said after her win.