AIBA World Women's Boxing Championships 2019: Mary Kom reaches quarters, one win away to seal a medal

Six-time World champion MC Mary Kom (51kg) begins her campaign at the World Women’s Boxing Championships on Tuesday with a commanding 5-0 win over Thailand's Jutamas Jitpong in the Round of 16 in Ulan Ude, Russia. The third-seeded Indian got a bye in the opening round and now progresses to the quarter-finals of the tournament.

The Thai boxer started on an aggressive note, but Mary soon gained her composure and threw a series of powerful punches and showcased her agility in Round 1. Round 2 saw Jitpong hd an upperhand for some time, however, Mary looked confident and in Round 3 she put up a heavy fight eventually was decided the winner of the bout 5-0, with points 29-28, 29-28, 29-28, 30-27, 30-27.

The most successful boxer in the history of amateur world championships, Mary is eyeing a record-extending seventh gold in the competition but her first in the 51kg category. Mary is now one win away to seal a medal at this edition of the World Championship. In the quarters, the 36-year-old will face off the winner between Colombia's Ingrit Valencia and Bulgaria's Gabriela Dimitrova on Thursday.

In her eight appearances in the World Championships so far, Mary has accounted for a total of six gold medals and a silver. Her most recent conquest was in 2018 in New Delhi.

On the other hand,Saweety Boora, who was playing her second bout in 75kg category, went down fighting to second seed Lauren Price of Wales in pre-quarters.

Yesterday, India's Manju Rani advanced to the quarterfinals in 48-kilogram category after a comprehensive victory in Russia. The sixth-seeded Indian prevailed 5-0 over Venezuela's Rojas Tayonis Cedeno to stand just one win away from securing a medal in her debut at the big event. She will next face last edition's bronze-medalist and top seed Kim Hyang Mi of South Korea on Thursday.