Discuss   |      Email   |      Print   |   Get latest news on your desktop

MC Mary Kom (46kg) started her quest for a fourth successive title with a resounding victory to enter the quarter-finals as defending champions India rounded off an all-win day at the fifth World Women's Boxing Championships in Ningbo City (China).

Mary Kom out-punched Japan's [Images] Risa Sugimoto 24-1 in a lopsided bout on Sunday. Such was the Manipuri boxer's dominance that she did not allow her opponent to land a single scoring punch in two of the three rounds.

The reigning national champion garnered 18 of her 24 points in the first couple of rounds before completing the formalities in the third.

Mary Kom will now square off against local favourite Guan Xiao Feng in the last eight stage.

The other Indian in action, L Sarita Devi, a gold medallist from the last edition of the event in New Delhi [Images], also made light work of French opponent Saliha Ouchen, beating her 12-5 in the 52kg opening bout.

Sarita will next be up against Egypt's [Images] Samiha Hassan in the pre-quarters.