Asian Championship: Mary Kom makes a winning start

New Delhi: India's five-time world champion boxer MC Mary Kom began her campaign in the Asian Women's Championship at Ulaanbaatar on Tuesday, defeating Thailand's Asian Games gold medallist Laopeam Peamwilai 6:4 in the second round.

Mary Kom, who has shifted from her customary 48 kgs to the Olympic 51 kgs, had got a bye in the first round.

Although the Thai boxer was slightly the taller of the two, it was Mary Kom's mental strength that gave her a slender lead of 2:1 after the first round of the bout. In the second round, the Indian increased the lead to 3:1 but in the next round the Thai girl came back strongly to reduce the deficit but Mary Kom led 4:3.

MC Mary Kom defeated Asian Games gold medallist Laopeam Peamwilai 6:4.

Round four was a tactical victory for Mary Kom as she delivered two crisp blows towards the end and she romped home the winner. She now meets Nandinsetseg Myagmardul of Mongolia in the quarterfinals slated for Thursday.

In the 57 kgs, India's Mandakini Chanu defeated Rahemi Sadaf of Afghanistan by Referee Stopping the Contest (RSOC) in the fourth round as Mandakini was far superior to the Afghan. The Indian now faces Kil Ok Kim of North Korea.

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