MC Mary Kom settled for bronze medal after losing to Nicola Adams of Great Britain 11-6 in the semi final bout of the 51 kg category on Wednesday evening.
It is India's fourth medal in the ongoing London Olympics and first from boxing team.
Expectations were high when Mary, the five-time world champion from Manipur, entered the ring but her opponent from England, currently ranked 2 in the world, was too strong to beat. She did give a good fight with quick footwork and counter punch but her height (5 feet 2 inches) made her difficult to attack her taller opponent.
The 29-year-old mother of five-year-old twins used to fight in 48kg category in the past but she had to fight in 51kg category in the Olympics because that is the starting weight at the games. In contrast, Nicola Adams had to reduce from 54 to 51 kg to fit into the category. This seems to have played a big role, as Mary struggle to reach her taller opponent.
Kom, the lone Indian to participate in the first women's boxing in the Olympics, assured of at least a bronze medal following her quarter final win over Maroua Rahali of Tunisia on Monday evening. She is the third Indian woman after Karnam Malleswari and Saina Nehwal to win an Olympic medal.
India's medal tally has now increased to four following Mary Kom's bronze. Vijay Kumar got silver in shooting, Gagan Narang won bronze in shooting and Saina Nehwal too bagged bronze in women's badminton singles.
