Mary Kom expects stiff competition from China, Philippines

Guangzhou :

A five-time world champion but M C Mary Kom says she is not quite sure about her gold medal prospects at the Asian Games where women's boxing would make its debut.

Mary Kom, a Khel Ratna awardee, is all set to jump from pin weight 46kg to flyweight 51kg in the Games, which would feature competition in three categories for women's boxing.

Asian Games starts on Friday.

"(It's for the) first time that I am going to fight in 51kg. Here it will be difficult. I think China, Philippines and some more countries are very good. I have seen them in World Championship and Asian Championships," said the Manipuri mother of two who is aiming for a medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Mary Kom won her fifth world title in September and she would be one of the three Indian women boxers to take part here, the other two being Preeti Beniwal (60kg) and Kavita Goyat (75kg).

Soon after defending her world title, Mary Kom beat the challenge of compatriots Meena Kumari and L Sarita Devi, a former world championship silver medal winner, to clinch her entry in the 51kg class at the Guangzhou Games.

Mary Kom, whose first preliminary bout is fixed for November 21, was modest about her medal prospects here.

"I cant' say. We (women boxers) are trying our level best to get whole lot of medals. I will try my best, can's say. It is a game," she explained.

Mary Kom said the experience of taking part in a multi-discipline event for the first time and the valuable lessons she would learn would stand her in good stead in future.

"Every competition will help. Games are very different, (sport-specific) championships are very different. Every competition will give you new experience. In these Asian Games also I will get lot of experience," she said.