Six-time champion M C Mary Kom today surpassed herself as the most successful boxer in the history of the Women’s World Championship, securing an unprecedented eighth medal by advancing to the semifinals in Ulan-Ude, Russia. Mary Kom defeated her Colombian rival Valencia Victoria in 51 kilogram category, fetching a unanimous 5-0 verdict to make the last-four stage.
Entering into this edition, she had six golds and a silver in her kitty, but this is the first time, she has secured a world medal in the 51 kilogram category. She had finished a quarter finalist in this division in the past.
Awaiting her in the semifinals on Saturday, is second-seeded Turk Busenaz Cakiroglu, who is the reigning European Champion and European Games gold-medalist.
Besides six world titles, Mary Kom’s incredible career is also studded with an Olympic bronze medal in 2012, five Asian titles, gold medals at the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games, besides numerous other international top finishes. This year alone, she won gold medals at the India Open in Guwahati and President’s Cup in Indonesia. She is also a sitting member of the Rajya Sabha.