Boxing great M C Mary Kom became the first ever woman boxer to win six World Boxing Championship gold medals on Saturday.
In the final of the 48kg event of the 2018 edition in New Delhi, she defeated Ukraine's Hanna Okhota. The Manipuri had previously beaten Okhota in a tournament in Poland this year.
The 35-year-old boxer won the bout in a unanimous decision to share the overall record with Felix Savon. The Cuban legend also has six gold medals at World Boxing Championships.
Savon, who also won three Olympic gold medals during his illustrious career, won six gold and one silver in heavyweight in the World Championships between 1986 and 1989.
Mary Kom won a silver in the inaugural edition in 2001 and then went on to win a gold each in the next five consecutive editions -- 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2010.
By reaching the semi-final on Tuesday, which assured her of at least a bronze medal, she has already become the most successful woman pugilist in the event's history. She defeated China's Wu Yu in the quarter-final, thus assuring the first medal for India.
Before this World Championship, the Manipuri was tied with Irish legend Katie Taylor (five gold and a bronze) in the number of medals won. Taylor now plies her trade in the professional circuit.
In the semis, the 35-year-old beat her North Korean opponent in a unanimous decision of the five judges in the semifinals.
Mary Kom entered the event with a remarkable tally of five gold medals and a silver to her credit. She last won a world championship medal in 2010 -- a 48kg category gold.
(With Agency inputs)
