With no motivation, competition, future of Indian boxers is dark, says Mary Kom
Source: The Sangai Express / PTI
Shillong, February 15 2016:
Concerned about the
administrative logjam in Indian
boxing, Olympic bronze-
medallist M C Mary Kom on
Monday said future seems dark
for the country's pugilists, who
are losing motivation to train.
India does not have a na-
tional federation after the
International Boxing Asso-
ciation (AIBA) terminated
Boxing India last year.
The
sport is being administered by
an ad-hoc committee.
The five-time world cham-
pion hoped the administrators
would put their house in or-
der before the
much-anticipated Rio Olym-
pics in August this year.
"Yes, they (the boxers) are
all demotivated.
There's no
competition, so it's very frus-
trating.
Whatever effort
they're putting is of no use.
They're being patient enough
but the future is dark for them
without any competition.
If
there's no National Champi-
onship, we won't have
any new boxers that means
no hope for future.
Future
will be dark," Mary Kom
told PTI.
"For seniors at least this
South Asian Games have
come up and the qualification
(Zonal Olympic qualifiers in
Qian'an next month) is com-
ing up.
That's why we're
trying hard.
Or else it will
just be reduced to 'time-
pass'," she quipped.
However, Mary Kom
strongly believed the sport
won't die.
"It won't die but they're
suffering.
They will not go
immediately change their
game.
Every athlete will be
happy if the family is in or-
der."
Asked whether she's up-
set, Mary Kom said: "Why
should I? It's not my prob-
lem, I'm doing my duty to
qualify for Olympics.
Not
getting exposure is not my
problem."
Mary Kom has a new
team provided by the Olym-
pic Gold Quest in coach
Chhote Lal Yadav, senior
physiotherapist Poornima Ra-
man Ngomdir and sports
science expert Nikhil Late and
she expressed confidence that
she would qualify soon.
"This team has a lot of
experience.
We're much bet-
ter prepared now.
We're
doing the same, it's tough no
doubt.
But we're doing our
best to better my perform-
ance.
My husband (K Onler
Kom) is giving me full sup-
port without whom it's
difficult," Mary Kom said.
The flyweight boxer said
she's training with taller men
in higher weight categories to
prepare in a better way.
"I've experience, it's all
about training with different
partners.
I'm training with the
boys who are heavier and
taller than me.
I'm preparing
at a higher level so that I can
handle things easily in an
actual competition," she said.
The celebrated Manipuri,
however, refused to predict
on whether she would make
the Olympic cut in the
upcoming qualifiers.
"Boxing is so unpredict-
able.
Personally I don't
believe in saying I will win
or not.
Yes I'm confident but
not over confident.
For exam-
ple, it might become easy or
difficult for me in the end.
"Everyone is doing their
best and trying to do better.
You will just see in the
ring.
You will have to wait
for the final bout then you
would know what I'm doing
or not doing.
You should never take any
opponent easily," she said.
Mary Kom, who had an-
nounced that Rio Olympics
would be her last, said she
might think reconsider de-
pending on how things pan
out.
"Rio should be my last but
I will see after the Olympics.
I will concentrate on
coaching at the Academy.
We're only waiting for the
inauguration.
I will take a
break for one or two years.
I
may reconsider if 2020 will
have more categories.
You never know," she
signed off.
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