Will Mary Kom get a ticket to London Olympics

Brimming with lot of hope and optimism, I had posted an article on Mary Kom immediately after her win over Norway’s Marielle Hansen 18-6 to make the last eight stage of the first and only qualifying event for women boxers -  http://sampspeak.blogspot.in/2012/05/mary-kom-edges-closer-to-olympics-dream.html     it was to be a ticket to London Olympics and road to a medal in Olympics.   Sad, that it now appears that the ticket will now  be decided by fate  after she lost in the quarter-finals of the World Championships to world number two Nicola Adams yesterday [16^th May 12].

The 29-year-old Manipuri went down 11-13 in a fiercely-contested battle in which she was tied with Adams on points in two of the four rounds.  The five-time world champion will return empty-handed on the medal front for the first time since the event's inception in 2001, but she still has a chance of getting a London berth if Adams goes on to win her semi-final bout.  In London Olympics, Women's boxing will make its c debut in three weight categories in London - 51kg, 60kg and 75kg. Asia has two slots in the 51kg division and one of them has already been taken by Asian Games gold medalist Ren Cancan of China.

Mary and North Korea's Hye Kim have ended up on the losing side in the quarter-finals and their respective opponents - Adams of England and Elena Savelyeva of Russia - will be facing off in the semis now. The winner of the bout will decide which among Mary Kom or Kim goes through to the Olympics.    A dejected Mary Kom was quoted as stating - "I gave my best but still lost, what can I say? I don't know if I have a chance or not. I don't want to think about it," .   She and the other Indian aspirant, L Sarita Devi (60kg) are in the same boat and will know if they have got the Olympic berth only after the semi-final stage.

There was some good news for India in the non-Olympic categories as Kavita assured herself of a medal by advancing to the +81kg division semi-finals. She beat Turkey's Semsi Yarali 15-14 to make the medal round.

The Semi finals  bout between Adams of England and Elena Savelyeva of Russia — will  decide which among Mary Kom or Kim goes through to the Olympics.   Asia has two slots in the 51kg division and one of them has already been taken by Asian Games gold-medallist Ren Cancan of China.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.