Never has an individual Olympic Games medal been secured for India with such ease, and no one has deserved it more than the slight lady in the blue corner, magnificent MC Mary Kom, full of grace and power. Mary gave a terrific hiding to Tunisia's Maroua Rahali, who was never really going to challenge the world No. 4, to move into the semifinals today.

It wasn't thrilling, it wasn't a contest, it didn't bring the roof down at the ExCel Arena - but from here on, with her 15-6 victory, it's a bronze at least for the little lady from Manipur. The fourth medal makes it India's best in terms of the number of medals won - four already. And Vijender Singh fights at the ExCel late at night, when only the lovers of sports and boxing would be awake in India. Also, for the first time, two Indian women have got medals at a single Olympics.

The tiny Mary, 5'2 tall, gave away four inches in height to her opponent, Tunisia's Maroua Rahali; she also gave her lots to dread in anticipation. Mary is an accomplished, decorated boxer, five times the world champion. She is vastly experienced and has the ability to string together fearful combinations. Maroua is Africa's best - that's the basis of her qualification for the Olympics. They're in different leagues.

Yet, Maroua didn't walk with fear when she skipped to the middle in the first round. She's tall and technically adept; in an extremely careful and cagey (read eventless) first round, it was she who constantly made the first aggressive move. Mary was mostly defensive, watching for and avoiding the jabs and hooks that came towards her face. Maroua was quicker and showed she wasn't a novice. Mary was saving herself for her next bout.

The points were earned by the two women at the end of the round, with the Indian edging ahead 2-1. Mary wasn't belligerent, and Maroua didn't back away in the second round too - the one interesting moment, an anxious one for the Indians, came when Mary slipped and went down to her knees.

Going into the third round 5-3 up, Mary stirred to action. Maroua, down and surely on her way out, had to create a win for herself from here on. But she just couldn't go to Mary - maybe she lacked the heart of a fearless attacker, maybe she lacked the strength of a conqueror. Mary kept her guard low, inviting the Tunisian to come in for her; when Maroua accepted the invitation, Mary unleashed a winning left-right combination that earned points with every punch - the round 6-1 to the Indian, and the bout 11-4 in her favour after the third.

Mary's coaches hyderated her, fanned her, instructed her; Maroua's jabbered rapid instructions at her, telling their girl to go all-out at Mary. But Maroua remained coy, diffident - that surely wasn't going to turn things around for her. Mary kept her gloves low, and once got hit with a heavy left from Maroua when the Tunisian did dare to venture in.

Mary is a popular fighter here. Though there were not too many Indian supporters in the boxing arena, she received much support. The arena was swamped by British and Irish fans, who shortly afterward went delirious cheering for their girls, Natasha Jonas and Katie Taylor.

The crowd could be a factor in Mary's next bout - she meets British girl Nicola Adams, who is strong and would have thousands of home fans cheering for her. India's boxing coach Blas Iglesias Fernandes was happy with Mary's win but advised caution. "That girl is good," he told the Tribune, and added pointedly: "And she's from England."

Fernandes was referring to the allegedly biased judging in some of the bouts. "Same with Manoj Kumar... these things are happening every day," he said.

Today was Mary's day - five-time world champion and now, with the introduction of women's boxing at London 2012, an Olympic Games medallist as well. She's going to work hard to change its colour on Wednesday.

MC Mary Kom wasn't breathless after her easy win over Tunisia's Maroua Rahali on Monday afternoon - it was almost like a walk in the park for the champion boxer from India. It won't be so in the next round, in which she takes on British boxer Nicola Adams. Mary had lost to Nicola at this year's World Championship in June, and she said was careful about her assessment for that bout. "One boxer will win, the other will lose," she said after her second-round win. "I'll try my best to win, the rest is up to God." Excerpts:

Are you satisfied with your boxing today?

I am so, so, so happy. This is the first time women's boxing was included in the Olympics, and it was certainly not easy. We have been waiting for a long time for women's boxing to be included in the Olympics. I'm really happy that I have won a medal for my country. I will try my best in the semifinals to get a bigger medal. I really want to thank God Jesus, the Sports Ministry, all my sponsors and the coaches.

Your coach Charles Atkinson hasn't been able to join you here.

Yes, I really missed my coach Charles Atkinson from Liverpool. He didn't come because of some family problem but he will come in the semifinals. I also want to thank my Indian coach, Anup Kumar.

Have you been talking regularly with Atkinson?

Yes, before every bout I talk to my coach Atkinson. He has been giving my strategies and tactics and telling me what I have to do against the taller boxers, against the stronger boxers, or the shorter boxers. Every second he is telling me how to attack or how to counter-attack.

The next bout is going to be more difficult.

I am quite confident for my next bout. Winning or losing is another thing, what I can promise is that I will give it my best. This is a game and one boxer will win, one will lose.

You've been a world champion five times, now an medallist…

I used to fight in the light-flyweight (46-48kg) category earlier. For the last two years, I have been fighting in the higher weight category, flyweight (48-51kg). If the 48kg category is introduced in the Olympics, then I am sure I will be champion. But there is no 46-48kg category in the Olympics, only 48-51kg category. In the previous categories I have been world champion five times. But in this category I have been fighting for only two years. I am gaining weight and it is not very easy to gain weight. Reducing weight is slightly easy but putting on is not easy because if I have to eat too much, then digestion is a problem and so many other problems!

You've been talking with your twin sons?

I speak to them every day. I wished them (for their birthday). Winning my first bout at the Olympics yesterday was the first gift, this medal is the second gift for them. — Rohit Mahajan

London, August 6
Indian shooters ended their Olympic campaign on a dismal note as medal contender Gagan Narang and Sanjeev Rajput crashed out of men's 50m rifle 3 positions event in the qualifying stage, while Manavjit Singh Sandhu also failed enter the finals in the men's trap here today.

Narang, who secured the first medal for India in London by bagging a bronze in the men's 10m air rifle event on July 30, performed below par to finish 20th in a field of 41 competitors in the qualification round, while Rajput ended at a lowly 26th spot to end any hopes of making the finals. Only the top eight went through to the medal round.

Manavjit totalled 119 out of a possible 125 with rounds of 24 24 22 25 and 24 to finish 16th out of 34 competitors in the men's trap qualification round. He shot pretty well except for a 22 in the third round that dented his chances in the end as only top six shooters advance to the finals.

The shooters, thus, ended their show here with a haul of one silver (Vijay Kumar in 25m Rapir Fire Pistol) and one bronze (Narang).

Four years ago Abhinav Bindra had provided the golden touch in the same event in which Narang won third place in the London Games while Bindra drew a blank in the same category. The 29-year-old Narang fell by the wayside today as he totalled 1164 points out of a possible 1200 with rounds of 398 377 and 389 in Prone, Standing and Kneeling, respectively at the Royal Artillery Barracks here. In the Prone category, Narang, who won four gold medals in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, started off brilliantly by shooting 100 in his first round followed by 99 100 and 99 in the next three series for a total of 398 out of 400.

However, he went off the boil in the Standing round as he misfired as many as 23 shots to log a poor 97 90 96 94 for a dismal total of 377, which saw him slip down the ladder. — PTI 

After winning it, he can whisper at his biggest adversary, Yohan Blake, and giggle like a schoolgirl. Sport is big, massive, the centre of his life - but clearly, he knows it’s not a matter of life and death. Six feet five inches tall, Bolt has the legs to do the longest strides. Excessive height was never considered useful in a sprinter, but Bolt threw that bit of conventional wisdom out of the window a long time ago. In the eyes of many, Bolt had become doubtful to retain his Olympic Games gold medal in the sprints – he’d been dogged by injury, he’d been overshadowed by sudden rise of fellow Jamaican and training partner Blake.

Blake had stunned Bolt at the Jamaican trials in July; Bolt also ran his slowest 100m senior level race earlier this year. The clamour to make Blake the king was beginning. Beanpole runners aren’t the best of starters, and that was the only thing he was worried about in the 100m final. It wasn’t a good start at all for Bolt – a bad one, actually. He was placed fifth at the halfway mark, but then those massive strides ate away the gap – one by one he overtook the others and won very comfortably. About 20 million people watched him win on TV – and inside the stadium, no one wanted to miss those magical 9.63 seconds, with even cops edging their way to the galleries.

“I was slightly worried about my start. I didn't want to false start again, so I sat in the blocks a little bit,” he said. Bolt now owns the three fastest 100m timings recorded in history. In his wake, six other sprinters came in at under 10 seconds in the final, Asafa Powell failing to go under 10s only because he pulled back due to an injury. In this brutally fast race, 9.75 was good for only a silver for Blake and 9.79 for a bronze (Justin Gatlin). Blake, at five feet 11 inches, is puny when he sits next to Bolt, but Bolt said it was he who’d given him a wake-up knock. “At the trials, when Blake beat me twice, it woke me up. Pretty much he comes and knock on my door. He said, ‘Usain, wake up. This is an Olympic year. I’m ready, are you?’ I got ready.” Bolt, the possibly the greatest sprinter ever, got ready, and burnt track.

When Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica won the 100m race in Beijing, the first woman from her country to do so, the world watched in awe, as much as surprise. But now when she became the first non-American to defend a 100m title at the London Games, it is clear that the legend of this sprint queen, is set to grow. In an exclusive interview, Shelly talks about London Olympics, Jamaica and the expectations that Jamaican athletes carry into all events.

How did it feel to win the 100m in London?

For me it was mixed. I wanted to execute a better race. It wasn't 100 per cent. But there is one thing that my coach always told me: if I went out there and did my own thing I could make sure I would win. And I did that."

What were you unhappy with in your race?

My coach said I needed to focus on getting a good first stride out of the blocks. I think the first 30 metres was really good, but in the last 30 my form started to break a little. I had a side glimpse and saw somebody coming. I started to lean. I didn't want to. It wasn't one of my best executed races.

How did it feel to defend the title you won in Beijing in 2008?

It's completely different to Beijing because there I was inexperienced. I was young and I never believed I could win. This time I was a bit nervous, but I believed in God and I trusted him to carry me through.

What does this mean for you and your country?

In 2008 Usain Bolt was the first person to get a gold medal for Jamaica. And now a woman is in charge, and I am really happy about that after two years that have been really rough for me. I have come a long way past four years.

What are the Jamaican public's expectations of the athletics team?

I wouldn't call Jamaicans greedy, but they are expecting a lot from us. For us athletes it's just about staying grounded and focusing on us. We are getting the work done. It's not about thinking what Jamaica wants.

Do you get recognized at home or wherever you go, the way Usain Bolt does?

I'm not one who loves the limelight, but sometimes when I go to the supermarket people ask me questions about Usain. Everywhere I go they ask; 'Do you train with Usain?' I don't, I have to explain there are different training camps. But that's Jamaica. Usain has done a lot, he has broken world records and won championships. If he is ahead of me in getting the limelight I don't mind.

How have you coped and come back so strongly since your ban?

I stayed focused and grounded in training. It means a lot to defend my title. Thanks to my coach, who believed in me more than I think I believed in myself. To excel as an athlete you have to trust your coach. If I knew how to coach I would be doing it.

How does it feel to join Tyus (1964 and 1968) and Devers (1992 and 1996) as the only women to retain the Olympic 100m title?

I don't know much about the history of track and field, but I know about Gail Devers. It's good to be in that category.

Will you go for the 200m title now?

I came here on a mission and it hasn't been completed yet. Let's see what will happen.

London, August 6
Oscar Pistorius failed in his bid to reach the Olympic 400 metres final on Sunday when the South African double-amputee finished last in his semis while it was a terrible night for the United States in an event they normally dominate.

Pistorius, who races wearing carbon fibre prosthetic blades after being born without a fibula in both legs, is the first double-amputee to run in the Games and was given a rapturous welcome when he went out on to the track.

The pace was too hot for him, though and, just as at last year's world championships, he finished last in his race in 46.54 seconds, way down on the 45.44 season's best he posted in the first round.

Immediately after finishing, heat winner and world champion Kirani James, the 19-year-old Grenadian, swapped his pinned-on name label with Pistorius, who will also run in the 4x400m relay, as the two men embraced.

"He's an inspiration for all of us, it's an honour competing against that guy" James told reporters. What he does takes a lot of courage. He's a great individual and it's time we see him like that and not anything else."

Pistorius said of James's gesture: "It was very kind of him. We share a similar life and it's what the Olympics is all about." Luguelin Santos, the 18-year-old junior world champion from the Dominican Republic, made the final while the fastest qualifier was Trinidad & Tobago's Lalonde Gordon.

For the first time in the Olympics, however, there will not be an American in the final. The U.S. have won the last seven 400m golds, three times in that spell sweeping the medals.

Defending champion LaShawn Merritt pulled up injured in the first round and Bryshon Nellum and Tony McQuay failed to get through their semi-finals. — Reuters

Pallekele, Aug 6
The world number two ranking clinched following a dominating 4-1 triumph in ODIs, India will now look to stamp their authority against Sri Lanka in the only Twenty20 international here tomorrow.

India's domination was reflected in the margin of victory and they would look to carry their rampaging form to the shortest version of cricket as well. Sri Lanka and India have played only four T20s since 2009, with both teams winning two each and Dhoni's men will look to gain an upperhand tomorrow.

The match also holds prominence considering the fact that the T20 World Cup is round the corners and it would be hosted by Lanka from September 18.Their batters fared well and so did the bowlers.

Even allrounders such as Irfan Pathan performed satisfactorily, prompting coach Duncan Fletcher to say that he would soon command a regular place in ODI team. Lanka, on the other hand, had nothing to show beside the only victory in second ODI. — PTI

Leeds, August 6
South African opening batsmen Jacques Rudolph and Graeme Smith batted soundly on a rain-hit fifth and final day of the second Test against England at Headingley today.

South Africa were 123 for one at lunch, a lead of 117. Play was twice interrupted by rain and only 21 overs were bowled despite lunch being delayed by half an hour. England's only success came when part-time off-spinner Kevin Pietersen trapped Rudolph leg before wicket with his second delivery in the last over before lunch - the second time in the match Pietersen had dismissed Rudolph with his second ball. By then, though, Rudolph and Smith (50 not out) had virtually ensured that the match would end in a draw. South Africa lead the three-match series 1-0 and England will need to win final Test at Lord's on August 16. — AFP 

Scoreboard

South Africa first innings 419

England first innings 425

South Africa second innings (overnight 39-0)

Rudolph lbw b Pietersen 69

Smith c Taylor b Pietersen 52

Amla c Cook b Pietersen 28

de Villiers lbw b Broad 44

Kallis c Prior b Broad 27

Duminy lbw b Broad 0

Philander lbw b Broad 6

Petersen not out 10

Steyn not out 0

Extras (lb2, w1) 3

Total (7 wkts, 65 overs) 239

Fall of wickets: 1-120, 2-129, 3-182, 4-209, 5-209, 6-223, 7-230.

Bowling: Anderson 18-7-38-0, Broad 15-2-52-4, Finn 14-2-55-0, Bresnan 9-2-40-0, KP 9-1-52-3.

Years ago, India watched the Olympic Games only because of hockey – that must now change. Indian hockey is among the underlings, and not among the honoured guests, at this biggest celebration of sport.

At London 2012, Indians have done well in shooting, boxing and badminton. In one of these, shooting, body mass, muscle strength are not the decisive factors. In another, boxing, body size is, again, of a lesser importance – a 48-51kg boxer will fight only against a 48-51kg boxer. In events in which body size and mass, and muscle strength and lung-power, are decisive – athletics, rowing, swimming – we are nowhere. Should we add hockey to the list of excessively physical sports wherein we’d be only among the also-runs?

Michael Nobbs, the Indian coach, doesn’t know what to do now – he can only promise more pain and much, much more hard work. “Where do we go from here? I, of course, am completely disappointed as we showed so much promise as we played during the past 12 months,” Nobbs says.

“Preparations and team-building were going according to schedule and our results had showed we were improving. What is going wrong?” Nobbs wonders.

Nobbs puts the blame squarely on the players. He says the team has let themselves down, and also the coaches and Indians fans.

He doesn’t think that the coaching staff could have done more. “There are no excuses. There's nothing more we can do as coaches, we're not out there on the field,” he says. “The players have to perform, and they have been performing throughout the year.”

Nobbs says he can’t figure out why the players are continuing to make old mistakes. “The same things that we all knew – lack of finishing in front of goals, and leaking easy defensive goals – have proved costly,” he says.

OLYMPICS BRIEFS

Vikas’ hopes dashed, CAS rejects India’s appeal

London: India’s hopes of boxer Vikas Krishan being restored to the Olympic Games competition after he was controversially eliminated on a protest by his American opponent were dashed when the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) rejected the country’s appeal today. The world’s top sports tribunal ruled that the appeal was not maintainable as there was no provision to contest the decision of AIBA’s Competition Jury which it said was final. “There is no provision in the AIBA Technical and Competition Rules allowing for an appeal against the decision of the Competition Jury in relation to a Protest. The decision of the Competition Jury is final and cannot be appealed,” the CAS said in a statement.

Vijay wants to quit Indian army

New Delhi: London Olympic silver-medallist shooter Vijay Kumar today said that he wants to leave Indian Army as he has not been given a single promotion in last six years despite good performances at the national and international levels. Unheralded Vijay, who is a subedar with 16 Dogra Regiment, provided the silver lining for India in London Games last week, clinching the second place in the 25m rapid fire pistol event.

“Indian army helped me in shooting by giving me coaching facilities and providing me with pistol and ammunition but I need money for my daily needs,” Vijay told ‘PTI Bhasha’ from London. “Since 2006 I won many national and international medals that includes 2010 Commonwealth Games’ three gold and one silver medal. But I have not been recommended by my seniors. I have not given any promotion or honorary award or any other kind of facility,” he added. Six-time national champion, Vijay had won two silver at ISSF’s World Cup. And though he missed out on a medal in rapid fire event at Guangzhou Asiad, he won two bronze in air pistol and center fire pistol. He also won a gold at Doha Asian Games. “I have been continuously performing well in shooting, but I have not given any reward. I am still a subedar,” complained Vijay. — Agencies