Six-time amateur boxing world champion and London 2012 Olympics bronze medallist Mary Kom has reaffirmed her intention to switch to professional boxing. Despite no longer being eligible to compete in the Olympics due to age restrictions, India’s most decorated amateur boxer is determined to extend her illustrious career.
Speaking at the Army Sports Conclave in New Delhi, the 41-year-old expressed her continued passion for the sport. “It saddens me that my age prevents me from representing India again, but to fulfil my hunger to compete, I plan to turn pro very soon,” Mary Kom told ANI. Her decision to turn professional comes after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, which sidelined her ahead of the Asian Games last year.
The age limit for Olympic boxers ranges from 19 to 40, leaving Mary Kom ineligible for future Olympic competition. However, her desire to compete remains undiminished. “I have accomplished a lot in my amateur career, but I still have the desire to play. My hunger’s still there, and I want to compete in professional boxing for a year or two while staying connected to the sport,” she added.
Mary Kom’s amateur career is nothing short of legendary. She became the first Indian female boxer to win an Olympic medal at London 2012 in the women’s flyweight (48kg-51kg) category. Her achievements include a record six gold medals at the World Championships and podium finishes in all eight of her appearances. Additionally, she has claimed titles at the Asian Championships and secured golds at both the Asian and Commonwealth Games.
Mary Kom is not the first Indian boxer to transition to professional boxing. Vijender Singh, the 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medallist, was the first Indian to go pro in 2015, paving the way for others such as Vikas Krishan, Neeraj Goyat, and Akhil Kumar.
Besides her personal ambitions, Mary Kom also reflected on India’s performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where the nation’s six-member boxing contingent returned without any medals. “I feel very bad because we could not win any medals,” she said. “I urge the boxers to work harder, and the federation should assess the shortcomings and start addressing them immediately.”
Among India’s top boxers in Paris, Lovlina Borgohain came close to securing her second Olympic medal but fell short in the quarter-finals, while two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen and Nishant Dev also exited earlier than expected.
