Feel proud that the country expects gold from me but it isn’t so easy, states Mary Kom

Reigning world champion Mary Kom has been the beacon for Indian sports in every multisport event the country has participated in for the past few years and she has delivered more often than not. Next up for her is the upcoming Olympics and as has become the norm, the expectations from her are sky-high. 

"Country is expecting gold in the upcoming Olympics. Individually, I feel proud to be here that people are expecting me to win gold in the Olympics. Yes, it is easy for them to say and the country can easily say that, but it is difficult for me to implement. We have to learn many things and have to do a lot of work. I will try my best to fulfill what the country is expecting from me," she was quoted saying by TOI on Thursday

However, qualifying is a major hurdle still standing in her way and is what that had stopped her last time around from representing the nation in Rio. 

"Qualification is one of the very important topics and once I qualify, slowly I will do better and better. And of course, I will see what the nation is expecting from me will try my best from my side," she said.

As per the latest Olympics regulations, the weight categories have been redefined which has seen the 36-year-old make the shift to 51 kg from 48 kg, in which she had won a Bronze at the London Olympics seven years ago. However, Kom won a Gold in the 23rd President's Cup in the 51kg category, her debut tournament in the new division and is confident of replicating her success over the years in next year’s sporting extravaganza.

“Changing weight is not a big issue and not difficult for me. The weight category 48kg and 51kg is not that much different. Now I have a lot of experience in 51 and I am preparing in a good and different way,” Kom concluded.