Marykom leads India's charge into semis

It was a dream day for India at the sixth Asian Women's Boxing Championships, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, as three of the four pugilists on view won their quarter-final bouts.

With five boxers having qualified for the semi-finals earlier, the Indian team is assured of a record eight medals from the event.

M C Marykom, Monica Saun and Pooja Rani finished on the winning side, while Mandakini Chanu went down despite putting up a heartening performance. 

Marykom was engaged in a tight 51kg contest by Nandinsetseg Myagmardul of Mongolia, but prevailed 14-11 on points.

Backed by a vociferous home crowd, the Mongolian started well and by the end of the first round led 4-2.

Although Marykom did catch up, she  trailed by a solitary point, 7-8, by the end of the second.

However in Round 3, with sound advice from her coach Anoop Kumar in her corner, the Indian ace changed her mode of attack and scored with combination punches. Her good footwork combined with sharp punches put her ahead 11-9, going into the fourth.

In Round 4, Mary was her usual composed and confident self and maintained the lead to set up a meeting with Alice Kate Aparri of Phillipines in Saturday's semi-finals.

In the 57kg bout, Mandakini Chanu lost to Kil Ok Kim of the Peoples Republic of Korea 17-31, after leading 7-6 at the end of Round 1.

The PRK boxer, with better reach due to height advantage and excellent movement, proved too good in the later rounds to emerge an easy winner.

In the 69kg, Monica Saun defeated Moldir Bazarbayeva of Kazakhstan on 16-14. She will meet Dapana Durage Shiromali of Sri Lanka in the semi-finals.

In the 75kg, Pooja Rani comprehensively defeated Undram Erdenesoyol of Mongolia on 28-6. Her opponent in the semi-finals is Su Rim Paek of the Peoples Republic of Korea (PRK).

In addition to the abovementioned three boxers, the others who in the semi-finals are Pinki Jangra (48kg), Sonia Lather 54kg, Sarita Devi (60kg), Bhagyabati Kachari (81kg) and Kavita Chahal (85kg).