India’s Kom marches toward record 7th world champ medal

India’s Mary Kom yesterday advanced to the semi-finals of the women’s world boxing championships, assuring a seventh competition medal and title as the most successful fighter in the event’s history. The 35-year-old pugilist beat China’s Wu Yu 5-0 in the 48kg quarterfinals of the flagship contest in New Delhi, ensuring at least a bronze medal as she advances to the final four.

The Indian champ was tied on six medals with Irish legend Katie Taylor before this edition of the International Boxing Association event, but yesterday’s victory over Wu will take her tally to a record seven. “It was very tough. Once I knew her game (Wu), I planned and made the strategy accordingly,” Kom told reporters.

“China keep changing their boxers and do not repeat them. They have got a lot of boxers, good boxers and strong boxers.” Kom, who was the subject of a Bollywood film in 2014, will take on a familiar foe in North Korea’s Kim Hyang Mi in the semi-final Thursday.