Mary Kom : I only got two chances to qualify, but male boxers get five to six chances

09/07/2016

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Indian boxer Mary Kom has regretted the lack of opportunities for Indian women boxers to qualify for the Olympics. The 33-year-old, who was denied a wild card entry after failing to qualify for the Olympics, insisted that she would have definitely won a medal had she travelled to Rio for the Games.

"I only got two chances to qualify. Male boxers get five to six chances, but even then many of them did not qualify," she said while expressing hope that things would change soon, reported PTI.

The five-time World Amateur boxing champion's hopes of representing India at the 2016 Rio Olympics ended after she was denied a wild card entry. This was after she failed to qualify, for what would have surely been her last Olympics, when she crashed out in the semis of the Women's World Boxing Championship at Astana earlier this year.

Mary Kom, however, has claimed that she would have won a medal had she made it to Rio. She said, "If I went (to the Rio Olympics), then definitely I would have come with a medal. Now, my profession (becoming a Parliamentarian) is different. I didn't dream to be in this profession, but I think God wants me to do something for the society. I will do good things not only for Manipur but for the entire country," reported PTI.

Mary Kom was attending a felicitation programme organized by the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) in Shillong, who also bestowed her with a degree.

"The degree of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) is awarded by NEHU to M C Mary Kom in recognition for her outstanding contributions in the field of sports," NEHU's Vice Chairman SK Srivastava said during the felicitation.

Speaking to the students who were attending the ceremony, Mary Kom said, "I am here (at the University) today is because I want to support you in your dreams and endeavours. Why I have so many recognition and honour was because of my dream and my passion (in whatever I do).

"Hard work, passion, patience, dedication and dedication are the mantras."