Olympics: Mary Kom fails to make finals, has to settle for bronze

M C Mary Kom was out-punched byu00a0World number 2 Nicola Adams and failed to make the finals of the women's 51 kg category here today.u00a0

Mary Kom, who's assured of at least a bronze since she made the semi-finals, couldn't match her British rival and lost 6-11 in a one-sided match.u00a0

The British fighter took advantage of her longer reach and power to comfortably take the first round 3-1. This meant Mary Kom had to play catch-up with her opponent. Adams then took the second round 2-1 and the third 3-2.

A gap of four points was too much for Mary Kom to overtake in the last round and with Adams winning it 3-2, it was curtains for the the five-time world champion'su00a0hopes for a shot at the gold.

Mary Kom (in red) defends against Nicola Adams during the women's flyweight boxing semi-finals of the 2012 London Olympic Games on Wednesday. Pic/AFP

This is not the first encounter between the two and Adams, who beat Mary Kom three months ago in the world championships in China, was once again too good for the Indian boxer.

Interestingly, while Adams has shifted from bantamweight (54kg) division to the present flyweight (51 kg), Mary Kom has stepped up from her usual light flyweight category (48kg) to the flyweigth division.

Niocla next faces World Champion Ren Cancan of China in the finals.

Earlier, minutes before the match started, the 29-year-old mother of two tweeted: "Ready for my match. Thanks all for your wishes. Hope to make my country proud. Jai Hind!"

Now all of India will be pinning their hopes on the other Manipuri in action in the ring -- Devendro Singh who will clash with Paddy Barnes of Ireland in the men's fly weight (49 kg) category.