Mary Kom goes down fighting in pre-quarter finals

Tokyo, July 29 (IANS) Boxer MC Mary Kom's campaign at the Tokyo Olympics came to an end as the veteran crashed out in the pre-quarter finals by the narrowest of margins against Colombias Ingrit Lorena Valencia Victoria. It was a split verdict 3:2 in favour of the Colombian.The 38-year-old Mary Kom, who had beaten the Colombian opponent in the quarter-finals of the World Championships 5:0 in 2019, lost the first round as Ingrit was quick to take advantage. The Colombian 32-year-old, who won bronze at the Rio Olympic Games, took 10 points each from four of the five judges unlike the Indian 2012 Olympic bronze medallist, who could earn 10 from only one judge. However, May Kom managed 10 points each from three judges in the second and third rounds as only two judges gave 10 to Ingrit in those rounds. But due to Ingrit's big advantage in the first round, the decision went against the Indian boxer who is also a six-time world champion. This could be the last Olympic Games for the veteran boxer. Earlier this week, Mary Kom had defeated Dominican Republic's Miguelina Hernandez Garcia 4-1 in the first round.
--IANS kh/bsk