Mary Kom creates history, Indian athletes shine in track and field

Incheon: M.C. Mary Kom on Wednesday created history by becoming the first Indian woman boxer to clinch a gold medal at the Asian Games as India added four medals on the 12th day of competitions. but slipped to 11th in the overall standings.While the seasoned Mary Kom, a mother of three, grabbed the limelight with a spectacular performance in the ring, middle-distance runner Tintu Luka fetched silver, while Annu Rani bagged an unexpected bronze in the women’s javelin throw event.

Five-time world champion and Olympic bronze-medallist Mary Kom was the undisputed star of the day as she beat Kazakhstan’s Zhaina Shekerbekova 2-0 to improve on the bronze medal she won in the previous edition of the Games, where women boxers made their debut.Luka clocked her season’s best to win a silver in the 800m race, while Annu also recorded her personal best throw with an effort of 59.53m. Despite adding four more medals, India slid to 11th spot in the standings, their tally at 50 (seven gold, nine silver and 34 bronze). China continued to rule the roost with a haul of 294 medals, followed by Korea (189) and Japan (161).

Luka clocked 1:59.19s to better the bronze medal she had claimed in the previous edition of the Games in Guangzhou. The gold was won by Kazakhstan’s Mukasheva Margarita, who broke the two-decade-old Games record of 1:59.85s with a timing of 1:59.02s. Later in the day, Annu Rani added to the cheer by taking a bronze with her personal best effort of 59.53m.

Annu achieved the mark in her first attempt as she led the field for a while before being overtaken by China’s Li Zhang and Lingwei Li, who won gold and silver respectively.

Elsewhere, paddler Soumyajit Ghosh was the lone Indian to reach the men’s singles pre-quarter-finals.