Boxing great MC Mary Kom settled for the silver medal ahead of Tokyo Olympic Games with a hard-fought defeat against Nazym Kyzaibay, who is 11 years younger than her, in the final of women's 51 kg at the Asian Boxing Championships in Dubai on Sunday (May 30). Showing her experience, the six-time world champion matched her Kazakh southpaw punch-by-punch, but Kyzaibay, herself a two-time world champion, outlasted the Indian. Result, a split decision of 3-2 in favour of Kyzaibay. This was Mary Kom's seventh Asian Championships gold medal, including five golds. (More Sports News)
Three other Indian women's -- Lalbuatsaihi (64 kg), Pooja Rani (75 kg) and Anupama (81+ kg) -- are lined up for their respective finals. Men's finals are scheduled for Monday.
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Six others have already earned bronze medals after their semi-final appearances. They are -- Monika (48 kg), Jaismine (57 kg), Simranjit Kaur (60 kg), Sakshi Chaudhary (64 kg), Lovlina Borgohain (69 kg), Saweety (81 kg).
India have already ensured their best-ever show by securing an unprecedented 15 medals, bettering their previous highest of 13 (2 gold, 4 silver and 7 bronze) achieved during the 2019 edition.
The International Boxing Association (AIBA) has allocated USD 4,00,000 prize money for this edition. The gold medallists of men's and women's categories will receive USD 10,000 each while the silver and bronze winners will take home USD 5,000 and USD 2,500 respectively.
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Check schedule, match-ups (fight card) and results here for Indian boxers:
And RESULTS
7: 46 PM IST: The first gold medal of the 2021 Asian Boxing Championships goes to the second-seeded Alua Balkibekova of Kazakhstan. She defeated Gulasal Sultonalieva of Uzbekistan in the women's 48 kg final by split decision, 4-1. Balkibekova had previously defeated India's Monica in the semis.
51 kg - MC Mary Kom (red corner) vs Nazym Kyzaibay of Kazakhstan's - 7:45 PM IST
8:17 PM IST: Top-seeded Dina Zholaman of Kazakhstan beat Sitora Shogdarova of Uzbekistan to win 54 kg gold with a split decision. Three on the bounce for Kazakhstan.
8:34 PM IST: And Sitora Turdibekova of Uzbekistan broke Kazakhstan's domination by defeating Vladislava Kukhta in the 57 kg final.
8:41 PM IST: Explosive performance from Rimma Volossenko of Kazakstan as the referee stopped the contest. A huge left hand and Huswatun Hasanah of Indonesia faced a standing countdown from the referee. Then, another one followed. It didn't even last one round. Another gold for Kazakhstan. Indeed, a very rare sight in women's boxing. But history for Hasanah as she became the first Indonesian to make the final of the Asian Championships.
8:48 PM IST: Action will continue after medal ceremonies.
64 kg - Lalbuatsaihi (blue corner) vs Milana Safronova of Kazakhstan
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9:39 PM IST: Another split decision against India. Lalbuatsaihi lost her 64 kg final against Milana Safronova of Kazakhstan. The Mizo girl was the last-minute replacement for Pwilao Basumatary, who couldn’t make the trip to the UAE after failing to a get visa.
9:57 PM IST: Valentina Khalzova of Kazakhstan beat Navbakhor Khamidova of Uzbekistan in the 69 kg final.
75 kg - Pooja Rani (blue corner) vs Mavluda Movlonova of Uzbekistan
10:13 PM IST: First gold medal for India. Pooja Rani defeated Mavluda Movlonova of Uzbekistan in the 75 kg final.
10:29 PM IST: Seventh gold for Kazakhstan. Fariza Sholtay, who won a bronze in 2019, beat Ruzmetova Sokhiba of Uzbekistan by unanimous decision.
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Up next is the final bout, featuring India's Anupama.
81+ kg - Anupama (red) vs Mavluda Movlonova of Uzbekistan
10:46 PM IST: Anupama lost her 81+ kg final to Lazzat Kungeibayeva of Kazakhstan by split decision (2-3).
