Abandoning Mary
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: August 04, 2012 -

MC Mary Kom arriving at Imphal Airport after qualifying for London Olympics 2012 :: May 22 2012 :: Pix - Hueiyen Lanpao / W. Rishikesh

"This is ridiculous! Infuriating", "Pathetic & it's insane ...This is not the way to support our best woman boxing champion", etc, etc, read some of the comments of the readers on the news report about forcing MC Mary Kom, one of India's biggest medal hopes to train of her own after her coach Charles Atkinson was denied accreditation for the Olympics, on the ground that he does not have the 3-star certification of International Boxing Association (AIBA), which is a pre-requisite for accreditation.

This means that Atkinson, who has been training Mary Kom for the last six months, would not only be able to join his tutelage at the Olympic Village but also be at her ring-side when she goes out to face her opponents in the ring.

Atkinson's place would be taken over by Anoop Kumar, the 'official' coach of India's women boxing team.

In connection with the public outrage over this unexpected last minute change, acting Chef-de-Mission of the Indian Contingent in London Olympics and Secretary of Indian Boxing Federation Brig PK Muralidharan Raja has issued a statement explaining that 'as per International Boxing Association (AIBA) Rules, only those Coaches and Trainers who are AIBA approved and accredited are permitted to participate as Coaches or Seconds for Boxers at the Olympics.

Charles Atkinson who has been Coach with Mary Kom for the past six months is a Professional WBC Coach and has trained Thai WBC Boxers in Thailand.' Well, if that is the rule, then we have to abide by it.

It is yet to be seen how this last minute adjustment affects the performance of Mary Kom. But it has raised many posers which the Government of India and more particularly the officials in the Ministry of Sports and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) need to answer.

It is obvious that the rules of AIBA may not have been framed overnight. Then, what made the officials to overlook this fact at the time of selecting Atkinson as the coach to train the lone woman boxer of the country?

Where were they all this while and how could they simply remove Mary's coach at the last moment?

Of course, Anoop Kumar, the 'official' coach is there for Mary now, but the two have not worked together for long and not definitely throughout Mary's preparation for the London Olympic Games.

Towards the end of 2011, Olympic Gold Quest, which is supporting Mary Kom, identified Atkinson for the training of Mary Kom at Balewadi, Pune from March this year.

It is Atkinson who has been grooming Mary to realize her London Olympic dream for the last six months and it is Atkinson, whom Mary finds comfortable to work with.

Moreover, the job of a boxing coach does not end with imparting training and his presence by the side of the boxer during bouts to give advice and suggestion as well as to work out strategies is essential.

It is unfortunate that all these important factors that go into the making a winner have been overlooked.

Anyway, what can we expect from a system where sports is becoming synonymous with corruption and red-tapism?

But this has given a good reason for our 'Magnificent Mary' to outpunch not only her opponents inside the ring but also right on the faces of the insensitive officials who left her in the lurch.