Half-fit Marykom too good for rival; 7 Indians into semi-final

New Delhi, Nov 21 (UNI) High fever and cold were hardly a deterrent for defending champion MC Marykom as she outscored Chandrika Guruge of Sri Lanka to book herself a semifinal berth in the 46 kg category of the fourth World Women Boxing Championship here today.

The day saw eight Indians take the ring with seven of them entering the semi-finals of their respective categories.

Marykom, who could not even take any medicines before the bout because of the doping tests after every match, however, hardly had any trouble in getting past the Sri Lankan, who just could not match upto the Indian's agility.

Marykom, who got a walkover till the quarterfinals, admitted to being rusty in her first bout of the tournament due to illness and lack of match practice. However, the two time world champion still had enough fire to outpace Chandrika and move into the next level with ease.

The Indian was never really in any sort of trouble and had established a fomidable 13-3 lead at the end of the first round.

The second round saw Marykom slow down a bit but she landed enough blows for the referee to call off the bout with the score reading 19-4.

''I had beaten her (Chandrika) in the Asian Championship and knew her technique quite well. But to tell you honestly, I don't think this was my best. This was not what I had expected,'' a visibly exhausted Marykom said after her bout.

''I have fever and severe cold but couldn't take medicines because of the doping tests. And I am very tired,'' she added.

Marykom will take on North Korea's Jong Ok in the semifinal and the Indian stayed on to watch her next-round opponent as she took on Russian Gnevanova Svetlana in the second quarterfinal of the day.

''I beat her (Jong Ok) in the last World Championship finals. She will be there in the semis this time, let's see how things go,'' she said of her next challenge.

Meanwhile in other quarterfinals, Chhotu Loura and L Sarita Devi scored easy victories in the 50 kg and 52 kg catgories respectively but Kalpana Choudhary crashed out of the 48 kg category.

A clueless Kalpana was completely out-done by Argentina's Yesica Bopp as she went down 4-19 after referee stopped the bout in the second round due to out-scoring.

Chhotu, meanwhile, continued her winning ways and mauled South Korea's Eun-A Jang 20-5 to enter the last-four stage. The Haryana-girl will take on world number one Hasibe Erkoc in the next level.

''I have already faced her (Hasibe) in the Venus Cup. And I think playing at home will also make a huge difference. Crowd support always helps,'' she said, when asked about her next match.

Sarita, also scored an easy 22-11 victory over Maarit Teuronen in her category to enter the medal-round of the championship.

The fifth Indian to take to the ring was N Usha in the 57 kg category, facing Ingrid Egner from Norway. Both girls started tentatively, getting just a point apiece in the first round.

Even after the second round, the score refused to move much, ending at 3-3. Usha was finally energised, though in all likelihood more by her father's piercing whistles, to end the third round at 11-5 to enter the medal round.

Lekha KC later polished off Mia Etalapelto from Finland in the 75 kg category at the very start of the second round. The first round saw the score ending at 18-5, and Lekha took just a few seconds into the second to finish what she probably could have done in the first itself.

Renu went one better in the 80 kg category, not allowing Iryna Komar from Ukraine to get a single point in their bout. With the score reading 13 in Renu's favour at the end of the first round, the Indian outscored Iryna 20-5 at the beginning of the second round.

Jenny L was the surprise package amongst the eight Indians in the quarter finals, forcing her Argentine opponent Celeste Peralta into submission, in the 63 kg category.

The contest was over in just a mater of time, when the referee stopped the totally one sided contest in the very first round, with the score reading 16-1.

Meanwhile, the President of the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation Abhay Singh Chautala has announced a cash award for all the medal winners.

''I would like to show my appreciation for these brave girls, by giving Rs three lakh to the gold medal winner, Rs two lakh for silver, and Rs one lakh for the third place finish,'' he said.

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