India Open Boxing | First prove in the ring then speak out against me, Mary Kom tells Nikhat Zareen
MC Mary Kom has hit out at former World Junior Boxing Champion Nikhat Zareen whom the former beat in the 51kg semi-finals of the India Open on Thursday. The six-time World Amateur Boxing Champion had earlier defeated Zareen at the Strandja Memorial in Bulgaria by 4-1 in a split decision.
On Thursday, a determined Mary Kom comfortably defeated her opponent Nikhat Zareen to prove herself in the ring in the semi-final of the India Open. Mary Komās reaction in the ring was in relation to the comments passed by Zareen earlier during the week when the latter told media that she was excited to take on her 'idol' and she would "put up a strong fight by using her brain" in the India Open 51kg semifinals.
However, Mary Kom emerged victorious in the hotly-contested encounter and hit back at the former World Junior Boxing Champion in the post-match interview. Kom opined that one should prove in the ring before passing āirritating commentsā out in in the public sphere.
"Every bout is a new experience for me. Even I don't know who this girl is. I've been fighting since many years now. I clearly want to say I don't want all this. It has come out in the newspapers that she's challenging me.
"First you prove inside the ring and then speak out (against me). She has won just one medal at the international level and such is her ego and attitude! They feel proud and satisfied. This is a very bad habit," the 36-year-old Mary Kom told PTI sources.
Mary, who secured a spot in the final of the 51 kg category in the ongoing tournament, also added that her opponents are lucky to be even fighting against her due to her experience on the international stage.
"How many years I've competed for the country? And how many times I've proved? It's better to say in a mild way. They are so lucky fighting with me. They will get more experience.
"I was so surprised to read her comments in the newspaper. It's so irritating. How can they say all this. Yes, everyone has the right to say and anyone can challenge. But I'm also a human being. It causes a lot of disturbance. Never mind, it made me more determined to do well. Why they challenge me then? Idol means you have to show respect, talk with respect," Kom added.
