Source: The Sangai Express / PTI
BRIDGETOWN ( Barbados), September 12, 2010:
Indian boxer MC Mary Kom (48kg) continued her march towards a fifth consecutive title by advancing to World Championship quarterfinals with a thumping win over Australian Jenny Smith.
Mary Kom dispatched Smith before the end of the first round with the referee stopping the contest when the score was already 9-0 in the Indian�s favour.
The mother-of-two from Manipur, who is also a Khel Ratna awardee, will take on Welshwoman Lynsey Holdaway in the last-eight stage on September 15. The 25-year-old is just one win away from assuring herself of a medal in the sixth edition of the event.
However, there was disappointment for Neetu in the 60kg category as she lost 2-12 to former world champion Katie Taylor of Ireland.
A vicious right hook in the first round could almost have sealed the contest, but Neetu managed to hold out for the full eight minutes.
Former champion L Sarita Devi�s triumph in the opening round of the flyweight (51kg) category was the lone bright spot on a largely disappointing day for Indian boxers at the Championships on Friday.
Sarita defeated Russia�s Alexandra Kuleshova 11-8 in a pulsating contest on Friday.
An aggressive Alexandra was proving to be quite a handful for Sarita but the 25-year-old Indian dug from experience to be 2-1 ahead after the first two minutes.
The Indian held on to the slender lead in the second round as well finishing 3-2. But Alexandra nosed ahead in the third round to lead 7-6 before Sarita roared back by going all out in the final round to notch up the win.
Sarita will now face Yazici Sumeyra of Turkey tomorrow.
"I worked very hard to reach my present level of fitness.
I have never played against this Russian boxer and I am glad that I could put it through," she said after the win.