Dubai: Six-time world champion M C Mary Kom (51kg) and Sakshi (54kg) stormed into the Asian Boxing Championship finals after notching up gruelling victories in their last-four stage bouts here on Thursday.
While Mary Kom prevailed 4-1 over Mongolia’s Lutsaikhan Altantsetseg, two-time youth world champion Sakshi upstaged top-seeded Kazakh Dina Zholaman 3-2.
However, Monika (48kg) settled for a bronze medal after going down 0-5 to second-seeded Alua Balkibekova of Kazakhstan.
The top-seeded Mary Kom dug from her huge reservoir of experience to outwit the sprightly Altantsetseg.
The veteran’s right hooks were particularly impressive in a compelling performance. She fought with a perilously low guard despite the aggressive intent shown by her rival and relied on her sharp reflexes to score on counter-attacks.
The 38-year-old will now be gunning for her sixth gold medal at the continental showpiece. She will be up against Kazakhstan’s Nazym Kyzaibay, a two-time world champion. Sakshi also endured a tough one against Zholaman but came out trumps, riding on her grit.
