MUMBAI: No stranger to the bodily toll of weight administration throughout a contest, six-time world champion boxer M C Mary Kom Thursday waded into the controversy surrounding wrestler Vinesh Phogat‘s Olympic heartbreak for being 100gm over, saying that to be throughout the prescribed restrict is a person accountability.
The 42-year-old mom of 4, who’s India’s solely lady boxer with an Olympic medal (a bronze in London, 2012), was within the metropolis to advertise Utkarsh Small Finance Financial institution, which named her as its model ambassador.
Talking for the primary time on Phogat, who was disqualified on the day of her 50kg finals within the Paris Video games for being marginally over the prescribed restrict, Mary Kom mentioned weight administration is an athlete’s accountability.
“I felt so disenchanted within the sense that I’ve additionally carried out the identical (weight administration) for the final so a few years. Weight is essential, that’s my accountability. I can’t blame anybody,” she mentioned.
“I don’t wish to say this in her case. I’m saying this in my case solely. If I don’t lower the burden correctly then how will I play? I’m there to win a medal and that’s what I feel,” she continued.
Mary Kom, prior to now, has spoken about her weight lower routines and the way tough the method could be. The Manipuri began out as a pin-weight (46kg) class boxer earlier than settling for the flyweight (51kg) division in her newbie profession.
Phogat, who was being seen as gold medal contender in Paris, skipped meals and fluids, labored out a whole evening and in addition lower her hair to be throughout the requisite class however the effort fell brief finally.
She challenged her disqualification, calling the foundations inhumane, however her attraction was rejected by the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport. The wrestler retired to hitch politics after the heartbreak and is contesting the Haryana meeting elections on a Congress ticket.
Wish to focus on Indian boxing with sports activities minister
Mary Kom was additionally quizzed about India’s boxing marketing campaign in Paris and he or she was nonetheless perplexed by how poor the efficiency was. She mentioned she needs to have a gathering with the nationwide federation and sports activities minister Mansukh Mandaviya to know “what’s missing” and clear her “doubts”.
The Indian boxing contingent, which included two reigning world champions in Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain, lower a sorry determine within the Video games and didn’t win even one medal.
“We all know what the end result was, it was so, so dangerous. I wish to know what’s missing,” mentioned the Manipuri, who grew to become the primary Indian lady boxer with an Olympic medal when she bronze within the 2012 London Video games.
Some of the profitable athletes within the historical past of Indian sports activities, Mary Kom felt the boxers bought all of the logistical help they wanted however she does have some “doubts” relating to how their coaching was managed by the Boxing Federation of India.
“I’ll meet the boxers too if the state of affairs calls for. If the sports activities minister has the information (concerning the points) I wish to focus on that additionally,” she mentioned.
Refusing to share her actual considerations, Mary Kom mentioned she would somewhat focus on them within the assembly with Mandaviya and BFI brass.
“The federation has offered all of the coaches. However I’ve just a few doubts as nicely. However what’s the level in saying them now, the Olympics are carried out. Now there isn’t a level in saying all that, however I wish to focus on it with them within the assembly,” mentioned the previous Rajya Sabha MP.
“(The) sports activities minister is doing no matter he can do from his aspect, infrastructure, amenities or no matter (different) wants are there. However how did the federation deal with the coaching? Was it carried out systematically or not? What occurred precisely, I have no idea,” she puzzled.
“If I don’t meet them and never focus on, how will I learn about them?”
Mary reiterated that she needs to take part in skilled boxing
“I’ve not retired but however I wish to compete. I’m making an attempt to get alternatives, ready for my likelihood to struggle professional. I simply wish to come again.”
“I can proceed for one more three-four years, that’s my will. I’ve the fervour and starvation. I wish to proceed,” she added.
