Kom through to semis, Vijender misses out

Getty Images / Getty Images Europe

Mary Kom guaranteed India an Olympic flyweight boxing medal as she booked her place in the semi-finals by defeating Tunisia's Maroua Rahali.

The 29-year-old five-time world champion fought her way to a 15-6 victory and there was no disguising her delight.
She said: "I'm so, so happy. This is the first time women's boxing has been included in the Olympics. I waited for so many years to be a part of the Olympics and when I have become a part of it, it feels so good to go back home with a medal."
The petite Kom, weighing 46kg, is fighting in a higher category than she is used to, with flyweight allowing boxers to weigh up to 51kg.
Kom, who has been training on Merseyside with coach Charlie Atkinson, said: "If there was a lower weight category that was included in the Olympics, I would have definitely been an Olympic champion.
"But this is a new weight category for me and I am just glad that everything's working for me.
"I have been trying to gain weight so badly. All I do is eat, eat and eat."
Kom, who will face Britain's Nicola Adams next on Wednesday, had the lead from the opening round as she manoeuvred her way around her opponent, winning the approval of the crowd.
The Indian said: "I feel so good when I hear the crowd shouting out my name. They say 'Go Mary!' and that actually makes me step up my game.
"My coach from Liverpool could not be here today and I miss him. But he will be there when I fight in the semis."
Kom quite reasonably has her eyes on the gold.
"I have some really tough competition ahead," she said, "but I will give my everything to get the gold for my country. That goes without saying."
China's world champion Ren Cancan also proceeded to the semis after defeating Russian Elena Savelyeva 12-7.
American Claressa Shields was off to a slow start as she lost her first two rounds to Swedish Anna Laurell in the middleweight quarter-finals. But Shields fought back to clinch a semi-final berth.
Beijing bronze medallist Vijender Singh lost to Abbos Atoev 17-13 in the quarter-finals of the men's middleweight category.
Singh was a favourite to land India a medal after his success at the previous Olympics.
Uzbekistan's Atoev was aggressive from the start as he worked his combinations and Singh's attempted recovery in the third round proved in vain.
The Indians are now relying on boxer Devendro Singh to guarantee the country a medal in the men's boxing.
Devendro fights Irish boxer Paddy Barnes in the quarter-finals of the men's light-flyweights on Wednesday.
Unseeded Evaldas Petrauskas defeated Italian Domenico Valentino 16-14, guaranteeing Lithuania a medal in the men's lightweight category.
The third seeded Italian succumbed to the 20-year old's quick reflexes and aggressive tactics despite the latter getting two warnings during the bout.
Reigning world champion Magomedrasul Medzhidov booked a seat in the semis after scoring a comfortable win over Russian Magomed Omarov in the men's super-heavyweight category.