Mary Kom: When our flag is not flying high, what is the point of even competing?

ByArun S Kaimal, SportsCafe Editor

06/08/2016

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Five-time world amateur boxing champion MC Mary Kom on Tuesday said that the absence of an effective boxing federation has hurt India’s chance at the Olympics. The 33-year-old also expressed her hope of securing a place in the Olympics as a wild card after failing to qualify through the qualifiers.

Indian boxing has been in administrative turmoil since 2012 after the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation was terminated for manipulating elections. Although a new body called Boxing India came to govern the sport in the country, a rift between state units forced AIBA to dissolve the federation in 2014. With no boxing federation, India’s representation in boxing at the quadrennial event has fallen from eight to one. Voicing her frustration at the current state of affairs in the sport, Mary Kom blamed the absence of a boxing federation for the decline of boxing in the country.

"It's better not to go (for international competitions) if we don't have a federation. All the boxers and coaches feel the same (disappointment) of not having a federation. In the first qualification event, the Asia-Oceania meet, we won a bronze but instead of the Indian flag, AIBA's flag went up. Our flag is not going up at international competitions and so what is the point in competing? Even if we win a gold our flag is not there so we all feel sad and we all think that it will be better if the federation is formed at the earliest. It will be very helpful for the upcoming youngsters," Mary Kom said, reported the Times of India.

The 2012 Olympics bronze medallist’s hopes of competing in the Olympics this time around are hanging by a thread after her second round exit in the Women’s World Boxing Championship last month. With no more qualifiers left, a wild card entry is the only way for Mary Kom to make it to Rio. The AIBA ad-hoc committee, which is looking after the boxing affairs in the country, has already written to the international boxing federation about the wild card entry for the 33-year-old, and Mary said that she is keeping herself fit to participate in the Olympics, if the opportunity arises.

"We have to wait and see what happens as the Indian Olympic Association and the AIBA ad-hoc committee has made their efforts. We will get to know about the wild card later this month. I'll be very happy if I get a chance and I'm keeping myself fit. Do pray for me so that I make the grade," the Manipuri boxer said.

When asked about her response on the decision of AIBA to allow professional boxers in the Olympics, Mary welcomed the decision and said that the increase in competition will help in improving the amateurs.

"It's good as the competition will become tough and fight will be good to watch. The amateurs will also improve," the 33-year-old opined.

The five-time world champion also paid her tribute to ‘The Greatest’, and said that Muhammad Ali would always remain her hero.

"I'm sad that he is no more. He was my hero and he will remain my hero forever. For all the boxers this was a big loss. When I started my boxing career he was my inspiration. And I'm sure Ali is the inspiration for most of the boxers,” Mary Kom said, reported the Times of India.

(Also read - The 10 Greatest Quotes by Muhammad Ali)

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