After losing to Colombia’s Ingrit Valencia, Mary Kom bows out from the Tokyo Olympics.
It was a fitting manner for Mary Kom to exit the ring if Thursday was her final bow. She went down fighting despite the big stakes and odds stacked against her.
The 38-year-old legend is a multiple-time Asian champion and a bronze-winner from the 2012 London Olympics.
Ingrit Valencia of Colombia defeated Mary by a 3-2 split decision in the flyweight quarterfinals at the Tokyo Olympics. Despite winning the final two rounds, the 38-year-old Indian lost the bronze medal match by a razor-thin margin. Because the Olympics have a 40-year-old age limit, Thursday’s match was her final appearance at the Games.
For all intents and purposes, the outcome was determined in the first round. Valencia dashed at Mary when the bell sounded, almost as if to prove a point. Mary may have countered her way to victory if she had kept up the pressure. Valencia, on the other hand, drew back after the first skirmish and played the waiting game.
Valencia impressed more with the blows she escaped than with the strikes she threw. Mary was forced to miss by the Colombian’s deft footwork and deft feints. Valencia landed a blow at the bell after Mary whiffed on a combination in the dying seconds. That was the end of it.
Valencia won the first round by a score of 4-1. The corners know where their boxers stand because to the open scoring system used in the Olympics. Mary used her years of experience and tenacity to cut the gap on the Colombian, who chose to sit on the lead. The exchanges were even, although her movement was hurried. On three scorecards, she won the second round.
The stakes were high, but then again, when haven’t they been? Mary defeated Valencia in the World Championships quarterfinals two years ago, becoming the event’s most decorated boxer. It was also the six-time champion’s first Worlds medal in the 51kg Olympic division. The pandemic snuffed out all momentum, making Mary a year older and slower.
At the end of the second round, women’s high performance director Raffaele Bergamasco yelled, “You have to press if you want to win this.” There was no chatter of dissatisfaction. Mary pressed on, nodding. Mary kept jumping, mouth gaping, legs and lungs burning. She continued to hunt for openings and lay traps for the Colombian. Three of the five judges agreed that she had performed well enough to win the final round.
But the 4-1 first round was tough to recover from.
Valencia deserves all commendation. A lesser, younger opponent could have been bogged down by the occasion, or could have overcompensated and pressed on the pedal. Valencia, a veteran at 31, matched Mary step for step.
Valencia had a huge party on Thursday. Several “te amo”s to her family, followed by a heart sign in case her voice wasn’t heard. There are still rounds to complete as well as opponents to defeat. She needs one more victory to capture her second Olympic medal. All of that, however, could be postponed. Mary Kom had just been defeated by her. That’s worthy of a medal.
