A historic fifth successive World Championship gold medal under her belt but star Indian woman boxer M C Mary Kom remains hungry for more and will not consider hanging up her gloves before finishing on podium at the 2012 London Olympics. The 27-year-old mother-of-two from Manipur brushed aside the rising international competition in women's boxing to clinch a fifth gold medal at the World Championships last night by thrashing old foe Steluta Duta of Romania 16-6 in the light fly weight 48kg finals.
Dubbed 'Magnificent Mary' by the International Boxing Association for her historic feat, the diminutive counter-puncher is the only woman boxer to have clinched a medal in each of the six World Championships, starting with a silver in the inaugural edition in 2001.
"I am overwhelmed and don't even know how to describe what it feels like. I am just so happy to have done it," the former Khel Ratna awardee told PTI in an interview after the unprecedented feat.
Balancing a demanding training schedule with the responsibility of being the mother of two young children is not easy but with women's boxing finding a place in the 2012 Olympics, Mary Kom said has a reason to continue doing the tough twin jobs.
"It's very demanding and emotionally draining to leave my sons behind for competing and training. But I have somehow managed to do it so far and hopefully I will continue doing it till at least the London Olympics. I want to win an Olympic medal, don't want to go before doing that. That's my dream," she said.
"I know age would be a factor but if I continue to train hard and remain fit, I think, I would be able to compete and win a medal," she added. Women's boxing would make its debut at the London Olympics in three weight categories -- flyweight (48-51kg), lightweight (56-60kg) and middleweight (69-75kg). Mary Kom will have to bulk up substantially for the fly weight division but she is confident of coming through.
"Putting on weight and adjusting to it is always tough but since I would be giving trials for the November Asian Games in the same division, I think I will have enough to time to adjust," she said.
Talking about her bout last night, Mary Kom said she could feel the pressure of expectations but was never nervous against Duta, whom she had beaten in the World Championship finals of 2006 and 2008 as well.
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