Marykom defies odds to enter semis

M C Marykom battled off the affects of cold and cough to cross the first hurdle in her quest for a hat-trick of titles as she beat Sri Lanka's Chandrika Guruge in the 46 kg quarter-final bout at the 4th World Boxing Championships in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The two-time champion from Manipur crushed her unheralded opponent by referee stopped the contest verdict in second round of the bout to advance to the semifinals.

Among other Indians, Chhotu Loura (48 kg), Sarita Devi (52 kg) and Negisatty Usha (57 kg) also moved into the last four stage while Jenny R L (63 kg), Lekha K C (75 kg) and Renu (80 kg) were still to enter the ring at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium.

Marykom, although a shadow of herself, was good enough for her opponent whom she had thrashed also in the Asian Championships quarterfinals in Taiwan.

The diminutive pugilist pounded combination of punches not leaving much room for Chandrika to score and was 13-3 ahead in the first round. Chandrika countered Mary to score only one point against her six in the second round but Mary had already outscored to be declared winner in the first bout of the day.

"I did not fight well today because I was not well. I have cold and cough and am suffering from a mild fever too. I could not take medicine also because of the dope test," Mary said.

"I was also not completely into my game because it was the first bout of the day," she added.

In a rematch of last year's final, Mary will now take on DPR Korea's Jong Ok, who defeated Gnevanova Svetlana of Russia 17-9 in another lightfly bout on Tuesday.