DUSHANBE, August 9, 2012, Asia-Plus -- Tajik female boxer Mavzouna Choriyeva, who was competing in the 2012 Olympic Games in London in the women’s lightweight 60kg category, has lost her seminal final bout 17-9 to Katie Taylor, the four time world champion from Ireland.

The BBC reports Taylor, 26, clinched a 17-9 win over gutsy Mavzouna Choriyeva of Tajikistan to progress to Thursday''s final in London.  Gold medal favorite Taylor, from Bray, Co Wicklow, was not at her best against the counterpunching 19-year-old.  But she was judged to have won each of the four rounds to set up a gold-medal bout against Russia''s Sofia Ochigava.

However, Mavzouna has ensured a boxing bronze medal for Tajikistan.

The women''s lightweight boxing competition at the 2012 Olympic Games in London are being held from August 5 to August 9 at the ExCeL Exhibition Center.

For the first time at an Olympic Games, the 10 men''s boxing events are joined by three women''s events: flyweight, middleweight and lightweight.

We will recall that the authorities have promised handsome cash rewards for Olympic medals.

In January, President Rahmon announced that the government will pay the country’s Olympians 300,000 somoni for gold, 250,000 somoni for silver, and 200,000 somoni for bronze medals.

The Dushanbe mayor’s office has offered two-room apartment for each gold medal, 45,000 somoni for silver, and 35,000 somoni for Olympic bronze.

In addition, Tajikistan’s largest commercial bank, Orienbonk, has promised that each Tajik medalist in London will receive the Lexus car.

The Islamic Revival Party (IRP) of Tajikistan has also promised to reward Tajik Olympic medalists.  IRP leader Muhiddin Kabiri announced on May 21 that his party will reward Tajik athletes who bring home medals from the forthcoming Summer Olympic Games.  Each medalist will receive two-room apartment in Dushanbe, IRP leader said.