Olympic bronze medallist boxer MC Mary Kom, who missed the ongoing women's World Boxing Championship due to a hamstring injury, is now focusing on making the cut for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games
Mary Kom during an event at Kalina yesterday
Olympic bronze medallist boxer MC Mary Kom, who missed the ongoing women's World Boxing Championship due to a hamstring injury, is now focusing on making the cut for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Mary Kom during an event at Kalina yesterday. Pic/Suresh KK
"My sole aim is to qualify for the Rio Games. I just want to get fit and start competing early next year," said Mary Kom, who is recovering from a hamstring and back injury she picked up while training for the Incheon Asian Games, where she won a gold medal.
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The five-time world amateur boxing champion added that the Rio Games could be her last Olympics. "After Rio it will be very difficult for me to continue.
Maybe it could be my last tournament," said the 31-year-old on the sidelines of an event where Edelweiss Tokio Life and Edelgive presented her with a cheque of Rs 5 lakhs for her boxing academy in Manipur.
Mary added that the injury has been a blessing in disguise for her. "My boxing has kept me away from my children for long. My twins have grown up and I am glad now I'm getting to spend time with them. So I would say that this injury has given me the chance to be with my family," said the Manipuri pugilist.
She expressed her wish to produce future boxing stars at her academy. "I cannot go on forever and someday I will have to stop boxing. My aim is to be able to produce many Mary Kom's like me who can win medals for the country," she said.
When asked to comment on the future of fellow Manipuri boxer Sarita Devi, who is facing a lengthy ban from the world boxing body (AIBA), Mary preferred to stay mum. "I just want to say that I want her suspension to be lifted as soon as possible," she said.
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