New Delhi: Speaking at the unveiling event of the Indian team’s jersey for the Mahindra IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships 2023 which is to commence on March 15, six time World Amateur Boxing Champion MC Mary Kom assured young boxers that the sport would give them financial security but they should concentrate hard on proving themselves in the ring.
“Money will come, the players should prove themselves in the ring if our players do that, money would follow, but if they are money minded, I don’t think they would be able to perform. In every field you should prove yourself then money would follow” she said.
She advised young sports persons against the trappings of fame and to keep their focus on the sport instead
“What I see today should be avoided, bad attitude, arrogance should be avoided, now athletes are rewarded by the state government, central government and the media spotlight, too much of this can hamper their training time. First prove yourself and earn accolades for the country, other things are secondary.”
The London Olympics bronze medalist expressed confidence that she would be fully fit to compete at the Asian Games in September
“My recovery is going on very well, very soon I will be able to train, I am trying my level best, after the recovery I wish to compete in at least one international competition before I retire. I would have recovered by the time the Asian Games comes up and I will have adequate time for preparations.”
On some sections of the press trying to compare Lovlina Bourgohain and Nikhat Zareen to her, she felt comparisons are totally unfair “Nobody should be compared to me, back to back consecutive world champion nobody has archived this feat, not only in boxing but even in other disciplines.”
When questioned whether she plans to take up professional boxing post retirement from Amateur boxing she said she hasn’t decided yet regarding that but she may opt for the same as in a way it is easier(compared to amateur boxing) as in a year there are one or two competitions as compared to amateur boxing where the schedule is jam packed with several competitions.
When informed that USD 100,000 would be given to every gold medalist while USD 50,000 would be given for every silver medalist at the Mahindra IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships 2023, Mary Kom jokingly said “I feel so upset, this time I am not competing and there is such huge prize money..this is not fair. I am very happy that the girls who became champions their lives would be changed.”
She expressed confidence that the Indian team would be able to secure around 5-6 medals including three golds in the Mahindra IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships 2023.
