Press Trust of India
New Delhi, March 2: Pugilist MC Mary Kom said Tuesday that she will quit boxing after the 2016 Rio Olympic Games as her body would not be able to cope with the rigours of the sport any further.
“I have decided that I will quit after 2016 Olympics. Rio Games will be my last competitive event and I will not continue after that,” Mary Kom said on the sidelines of a promotional event here.
“My third child is two years old and I think it’s enough for me. Who would have faced the rigours of competitive boxing after having three children? I want to bring happiness to the people of this country by winning a gold medal in Rio,” said the boxer who won the bronze at the 2012 London Games.
Mary Kom informed that after the Rio Games she will concentrate on her boxing academy set up in Imphal which is expected to be inaugurated shortly by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“I will give my full time to my academy. I want to produce more Mary Koms, more World Champions. I will also be available to support any social cause,” she said.
The diminutive boxer expressed disappointment at the infighting prevalent in the boxing community in the country and said the pugilists were the only sufferers.
Asked about the future of Indian boxing, she said, “What do I say? There is infighting in the federation. Some would say to do this and others will say to do that. The boxers are confused and they don’t know what to do. Unless there is unity, we will not get anything. Boxers are the only sufferers in the imbroglio.
Stating that she would start training hard for the Rio Games after the inauguration of her academy, Mary stated that she is keen to perform in the Asian Championships and the World Championships later this year.
“The Asian Championships and World Championships are coming up and they will act as qualifiers for the Rio Olympics. So, I have to do well in these tournaments to qualify for the Rio Olympics. So I will start training from April,” she informed.
