CWG 2018: “Iron Lady” Mary Kom to be India’s flagbearer at closing ceremony
April 14, 2018
Gold Coast: Indian boxing legend M C Mary Kom, who claimed a gold medal on debut at the Commonwealth Games, will be India’s flagbearer at the event’s closing ceremony in Gold Coast on Sunday. The 35-year-old five-time world champion, who is also an Olympic bronze-medallist, claimed her maiden CWG gold after beating Northern Ireland’s Kristina O’Hara in the light flyweight (48kg) final on Sunday.
“This is the first time I will be India’s flag-bearer in an event like this. I don’t know if I deserve it but I am certainly very proud of it,” Mary Kom told PTI. The five-time Asian champion has claimed three gold medals in the last five months, starting with the Asian Championships in Vietnam. The boxer also cleared the air on the wrong spelling of her name being used by the organisers. Her name has ben spelt Mery instead of Mary.
“Actually it is Mary but because my passport has the spelling Mery, the organisers have gone with that spelling. I will be getting it corrected once I am done with the Games and back in India,” she said.
Earlier, five-time world amateur boxing champion Mary Kom kicked off India’s medal rush on day 10 of the Commonwealth Games 2018 at Gold Coast in Australia as she defeated Kristina O’Hara via unanimous decision stretching over three rounds in the women’s 45-48 kg category on Saturday morning.
This was Mary Kom’s first appearance on Commonwealth platform and probably could have been her last as well, but she made it memorable by claiming the yellow metal with a dominating performance. She defeated her opponent from Northern Ireland 5-0 to claim the gold. The 35-year-old won after the five judges laid the verdict – 30-27, 30-27, 29-28, 30-27, 20-27 – in her favour.
Mary Kom struck her for fun, her right hooks being especially telling. By the second round, Mary Kom seemed to be thoroughly enjoying herself in the ring against her timid rival.
