Former Olympic bronze medalist, Mary Kom, made headlines when she claimed that she was being forced to quit boxing due to her age.
However, Kom was quick to clarify that she was misquoted and that she was referring to her participation in the Olympics. ‘‘I still have the hunger to achieve more and focusing on my fitness. Whenever I will announce retirement, I will inform everyone,’’ said the star Indian boxer.
Regarding her misinterpreted statement, Mary Kom said, ”I went to Dibrugarh on January 24 to participate in a school function. Then I was motivating the children. I said then that I am still hungry for success in sports. But due to the age limit, one cannot participate in the Olympics. However, I can continue to play. I am still focusing on fitness and will let everyone know whenever I retire.”
The incident raises questions about the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) decision not to allow athletes over the age of 40 to take part in elite competitions. Despite being over the age of 40, Kom still possesses the will to compete at the highest level and bring glory and honour to the country.
Conversely, it could also be argued that Kom’s claim was an emotional attempt to convince the IBA to change their rules and let her participate in the Paris Olympics later this year. Kom is a six-time World Champion and a bronze medalist in the 2012 London Olympics, who has been looking for an opportunity to better her performance at the Olympics ever since.
However, it is unlikely that this is the case given that Kom has achieved phenomenal success in her career so far and inspired an entire generation to take up boxing along the way. Given the kind of impact that Kom has had on boxing in India, whenever the veteran boxer does decide to hang up her gloves, Indian boxing will be divided into two parts: before and after Mary Kom.
