In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, bronze medallist at the 2012 London Olympics, boxer Mary Kom, speaks about her disappointment at not qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics, as well as her new role as a Member of the Parliament.
The five-time World Amateur Boxing champion, who is also the brand ambassador of Zeven, spoke exclusively to Sportskeeda at a private event in New Delhi.
Here are the excerpts from the interview:
First of all, you had said in June 2016 that you intend to carry on for three more years. So what exactly are your plans for the future?
I do want to continue for three more years but it will be tough for me because now I am also a Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha. I will have to ask the House to get permission to compete in different events in boxing. It will be tough but I will have to manage it.
Now that you are a Member of Parliament, what changes do you want to make in the sport of boxing?
I will try to help any kind of sport in the country. I will help the government if they need my advice of any kind, I will also look to make changes in sports. I can suggest the government to develop more facilities throughout the country.
Do you think the conditions of the coaches and facilities given to your fellow boxers around the country are sufficient for them to succeed?
We are happy with the coaches, but if we can learn something else and get more exposure, then that would be great. The boxers have been suffering because there is no federation in the country. All the boxers are suffering because we are not getting chances. For us its okay, but for the youngsters, it's very tough because it is stopping their development.
There have not been any Nationals in boxing in India since 2012, so how has it affected the sport?
The difference is that we have always seen the national flag in the past whenever we have won a medal at any major competition in the world, but now we feel very sad and bad that we have the International Boxing Association (IBA) flag instead of the Indian flag when we win any competition. It has also affected the young boxers as they no longer have a platform to showcase their talent.
Do you think India will be able to send boxers to the Toyko Olympics in the absence of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI)?
I believe that the government will do something about it. I am also here to do something about the absence of the federation. The elections for the federation are scheduled to take place on 27th September, so I hope there will be a federation very soon. But if that fails to happen, then I will go directly to the Prime Minister or the Sports Minister in order to get a federation for the sport in India.
Do you want to get into the BFI?
I have no plans as of right now. But let’s see in the future. (laughs)
What made you apologise to the country when you had gone to see Vijender Singh’s match?
Everybody was expecting me to qualify for the Rio Olympics. The nation wanted me to qualify for the Games in Rio but I could not fulfill their hopes. So it was very sad for me that I could not qualify. Everybody was expecting so I was very disappointed that I could not qualify. That is why I had said sorry to everyone.
You have been a part of the Super Fight League (SFL) in the past. What was your motive behind it?
Yes, I was a part of the SFL for two years, but I am no longer a part of it now. I was the brand ambassador for the league and I took it up because they were giving a good opportunity to the young athletes to showcase their talent at a big platform.
Do you think there is enough talent in the country in women’s boxing that can eclipse your bronze medal achievement of London 2012?
Yes, there is huge talent in the country in women’s boxing. But the problem is that there is no federation, so the young boxers do not get the kind of exposure that they need to succeed at the highest level. Tournaments are not being organised in the country and the boxers have been unable to go abroad to compete. Even I have talented boxers in my academy, but they don’t get the chance to compete at tournaments, so that is hampering their career.
For any young boxer, experience is something that helps a lot in making a good career. Some people are very weak, and some people are very strong. I am very strong but some boxers are not. I am able to handle anything, but the young boxers need the exposure to become strong.
What do you intend to get out of your Mary Kom-SAI Boxing Academy? Do you send the athletes abroad to compete at competitions?
I train all the boxers who are there at my academy. I train them regularly and give them training sessions almost every day when I’m there in Imphal. I will allow boxers to go the compete abroad if the government allows them to go.
At this point in your career, at 33 years of age, what is in store for you as an athlete?
I maybe 33 years old but I still want to continue to fight. But now I’m also an MP, so there are so many activities which I need to do because that is my duty. I have to attend Parliament sessions as well, so it will be tough to take time out for boxing. However, I still want to continue till the year 2020 but managing both will be very difficult for me. The government has given me a great nomination for the Rajya Sabha. So I will try to do my best to manage both.
How do you think our Olympians performed at the Rio Olympics?
It was very unfortunate that we only won two medals. Everybody was expecting more than two medals at the Olympics. Even I don’t know the reason behind it and even you don’t know the reason. I’d like to say that every athlete tried their best but for some reason, they could not win.
There were also some athletes who gave their best but missed a medal like Dipa Karmakar and Abhinav Bindra. There were athletes who gave a great performance but some could not. The past is past, so let us forget it. We should think about the future. I am happy that our PM is taking up so many things in sports.
So what changes do you think should be made?
I think the future will be very good for the athletes. So we will see in the future as to how we can support them more. The situation should not be such that if the athlete is not performing well, we should stop supporting him/her. We should always keep supporting them.
You are an icon for the women of the country. There is an increase in the number crimes against women throughout the country. What difference can you make as an MP?
I always feel very sad when I hear about crimes. What people don’t understand is that tomorrow it might even be your sister who is the victim of some incident. If the men are giving us special treatment and respecting us, as a sister, mother, then it will all be good. We are all same as human beings. If there is a small mistake made by any man, then they can say sorry and we can forgive them.
There is no need to do like this (commit crimes against women to take revenge of any kind). It’s very bad. If he feels sorry about the incident, then it’s okay and the woman can be okay with it. But if the man is not sorry and continues to do it, then the woman should tell him that what he is doing is very wrong and it is very bad.
What is your message to young girls who want to take up sports as a profession?
I want to tell them that if I can take up a sport and still continue playing it at 33 years of age, then why can’t they? I challenge the young girls of the country to take up any sport and become better than me. I want to motivate them to a point where they will think, “Ahh Mary Kom has challenged me.. I have to take it up.”
I have three children, but I am still boxing for the nation. I always have challenges in front of me, as I am also a mother. But even at 33, I am very fit. So if I can do this and stay fit and strong, then why can’t the youngsters? They have more energy than me. They can have a future in sports because it is prospering in India.
