Mary to go for history,again

But while she plans to take a break,Mary,who had earlier suggested that the only thing missing from her list of career achievements was an Olympic medal,confirmed that she isn’t planning to quit the sport anytime soon.

“I won a medal and am happy. But at the same time,I didn’t want to return with just a bronze. If my body remains fit,I want to take part at the Rio Olympics as well and come back with a gold,” she said.

If she does press on,there maybe an advantage to counter the obstacle of age (She will be 33 at Rio). “I have heard that perhaps there will be six categories included for the Rio Olympics. And if the 48 or 46kg category is introduced,that will be a huge help for me as well,” says Kom who won five world titles in the lower weight categories (45,46 and 48kg) but was forced to compete in the 51kg category at London,an increase slowed her down.

While the lure of competing in yet another Olympics remains,Mary is keen to make the most of what she has already achieved and increase the popularity of her sport in the North East. “The medal is very significant because it gives a lot of power. While I have to focus on my career,I also want to help other boxers from my state. I have an academy in Manipur and I have got offers to extend it across the the whole of the northeast. Some states have offered land and others have offered money. If we have good facilities and infrastructure,we can hope to win more medals at the Olympics.

“My medal is just the beginning and things can only get better. There are lot of women boxers at sub-junior and junior level. If you want them to do well internationally,you have to prepare and plan from now onwards,” she said.

She also said boxing could only have benefitted if there had been at least one other medalist among the eight-strong Indian boxing contingent. “I was a little sad over the fact that the men boxers were not able to get any medals. Before the start of the Olympics,I was sure that they would win at least two or three medals. But they were unlucky. They had a few decisions that went against them,” she said.

Indeed,she says there was something odd over the refereeing over the course of the Games.

“There were many decision that were very strange during the event and then boxers protested and got those decisions overturned. That was an even bigger surprise. The only reason I can think this happened is because the referees did not have sufficient experience. These things,perhaps,can be expected in some minor tournament but not at the Olympics,” she said.