“Weight control is the athlete’s responsibility”: Mary Kom

Six-time world champion boxer MC Mary Kom, no stranger to the physical toll of weight management during a match, on Thursday waded into the debate surrounding wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s Olympic heartbreak for being 100 grams overweight, saying it is an individual responsibility to remain within the prescribed limit. . The 42-year-old mother of four, India’s only female boxer with an Olympic medal (bronze in London, 2012), was in the city to promote Utkarsh Small Finance Bank, which appointed her its brand ambassador.

Mary Kom spoke for the first time about Phogat, who was disqualified on the day of her 50kg final at the Paris Games for being marginally above the prescribed limit, saying weight management is an athlete’s responsibility.

“I felt so disappointed in the sense that I have also been doing the same thing (weight control) for the past few years. Weight is important, that is my responsibility. I cannot blame anyone,” she said.

“In her case, I don’t want to say this. I’m just saying this in my case. If I don’t lose weight properly, how will I play? I’m there to win a medal and that’s what I think.” she continued.

Mary Kom has spoken in the past about her weight loss routines and how difficult the process can be. The Manipuri started out as a boxer in the pinweight (46kg) category before settling for the flyweight (51kg) category in her amateur career.

Phogat, who was seen as a gold medal contender in Paris, skipped meals and fluids, trained all night and also cut her hair to fall into the required category, but the effort ultimately fell short.

She challenged her disqualification, calling the rules inhumane, but her appeal was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The wrestler retired to join politics after the heartbreak and is contesting the Haryana Assembly elections on a Congress ticket.

Wants to discuss Indian boxing with the Sports Minister

Mary Kom was also questioned about the Indian boxing campaign in Paris and she was still stunned at how poor the performance was. She said she wants to meet with the national federation and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to understand “what is missing” and clear her “doubts”.

The Indian boxing contingent, which included two reigning world champions Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain, performed poorly at the Games and failed to win a single medal.

“We know what the result was, it was so, so bad. I want to know what is missing,” said the Manipuri, who became the first Indian woman boxer to win an Olympic medal when she won bronze at the 2012 London Games.

Mary Kom, one of the most successful athletes in the history of Indian sports, felt the boxers were given all the logistical support they needed, but she does have some “doubts” about how their training was managed by the Boxing Federation of India .

“I will also meet the boxers if the situation demands. If the Sports Minister has the knowledge (on the issues), I would also like to discuss that,” she said.

Mary Kom declined to share her exact concerns, saying she would prefer to discuss them during the meeting with Mandaviya and BFI Brass.

“The federation has made all the coaches available. But I also have some doubts. But what’s the point of saying them now, the Olympics are over. Now there’s no point in saying all that, but I want discussing it with them in the meeting,” the former Rajya Sabha MP said.

“(The) sports minister is doing what he can do from his side, infrastructure, facilities or whatever (other) needs there are. But how did the federation handle the training? Was that systematic or not? What exactly happened, I don’t know,’ she wondered.

“If I don’t meet them and discuss them, how can I know about them?” Mary reiterated that she wants to participate in professional boxing. “I’m not retired yet, but I want to compete. I’m trying to get opportunities, waiting for my chance to fight the pro. I just want to come back.” “I can continue for another three to four years, that is my will. I have the passion and the hunger. I want to continue,” she added.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)