The Six-time Boxing World Champion MC Mary Kom has decided to skip the World Championships and Asian Games as she opts out of their trials which are scheduled to start from this week. The trials are an opportunity and platform for upcoming pugilists to show their class and preparation against top boxers in the country.
Mary Kom who featured in the Tokyo Olympics last year, communicated with the Boxing Federation of India through a letter. She wrote in her statement to BFI on how she wants to give this opportunity to youngsters to shine and she would only like to focus on Commonwealth Games.
“I would like to withdraw to give the opportunity to the younger generation to make a name for themselves on the International stage and get exposure and experience of major tournaments. I would like to focus on the preparation for the Commonwealth Games only,” the veteran pugilists said in her statement.
There will be trials for selection of all the 12 Women’s Boxing categories and will run for a couple of days. It is a joint trial for the IBA World Championship and the Asian Games so there is an added incentive for the pugilists to perform at their best. The remaining two weight categories of 51kg and 69kg, which are in the Asian Games, different trials will be conducted by the BFI.
BFI President Ajay Singh has accepted Mary Kom’s plea as he shared how great the veteran has been for India in world events and how it is a big opportunity for the youngsters to turn up in her slot. “Mary Kom has been the torchbearer for Indian boxing since the last two decades and has inspired countless boxers and sportspersons across the world. We completely respect her decision and it is a testimony of her champion character to make way for the other boxers.
We are delighted that we have such a good bench strength and are looking forward to the younger generation to make the nation proud and I hope and wish Mary all the best with her preparations for the CWG,” said Mr Ajay Singh, President of Boxing Federation of India.
The trials will be conducted by the selection committee which will consist of Ajay Singh himself along with a panel of reputed veteran boxers. They will look to smoothly carry out the process of selection.
The IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships is scheduled from May 6 to 21 in Istanbul, Turkey while the 2022 Commonwealth Games and 2022 Asian Games will begin on July 28 and September 10 respectively.
