Musing on Mary Kom's coach change

Winners are born and made. The made part is usually pointed on to those who aren’t seen as genetic superstars, athletes who have to grind it out and make it blue collar style. But it is often ignored that even genetic lottery winners, those who we say are born for their game, even these athletes are where they are because of the guidance they receive and their persistence.

A coach can make the difference between a boom and a bust. They mold, shape and guide a prodigy to fulfill their potential. But the role is a sensitive one. Every athlete is different and needs a different approach. The coach doesn’t just affect the physical and mental performance. They let the athlete know what is possible and guide them towards that. They teach the athlete how to dream, believe in themselves and be self-reliant. Another important part they play is to map out competitions which the athlete can participate in to further their career.

There is a separate dimension which coaches introduce to the athletes – Politics. Look at whats going on with Mary Kom.Imagine Micky being forced to skip out on Rocky because he wasn’t accredited.

Sorry Rock! Our country’s bureaucracy wants me out. Good luck!

“I could not get an accreditation for the Olympic village because there are apparently a limited number of spots. We are disappointed, both Mary and I. But we can’t hold any hard feelings,” said Mary’s coach Charles Atkinson.

This right here is the official explanation:India’s acting Chef-de-Mission Brig. P K Muralidharan Raja said: “AIBA does not permit any Boxing Coach who does not have an AIBA 3 Star Certification to be Coaches at Olympics, World Championships, Asian Games etc. Hence Mr. Charles Atkinson cannot be accredited as a Coach of Mary Kom for London Olympics as per AIBA Rules,”

Whose responsibility was it to get accreditation? If it is negligence on Atkinson’s part then Mary would have acknowledged it. Apparently that’s not the case.

What matters more, the athlete’s preference or the leanings of the higher ups? Who gets to decide what is best? Even if the higher ups have made the right call in terms of selection of a coach on the basis of qualifications, its folly to ignore that the match won’t be played on paper with the coach’s influence. Like a Pokemon trading card game when one player flashes Pikachu and the other flashes Raichu or whatever and says “Look! My Pokemon’s Exp beats yours!”

This is real life and emotions come into play. It seems clear that Mary will be indignant at the snub of the coach she is comfortable with. She will be agitated with that and it will affect her focus. It can either give her an edge of extra ferocity, or it will make her feel that her own nations is presuming to dictate what is best for her and overriding her opinion in the matter.

I’m not suggesting that she will become petulant and feel like “Oh my country’s officials won’t give me the coach I want. If they don’t have my back how can I perform?” She’s way, way tougher than that. Her coach has some sort of chemistry with her which she is comfortable with. They have trained together unlike the coach being paired with her right now. There is a comfort zone which is being displaced.

There’s no way to assuage what impact this will have. If she wins people will say that it was the right call and if she loses, vice versa. Here’s the thing, she may have won despite of not getting the proper support from her coach, and if she loses, it may have happened inspite of the best possible support from her coach.

The only way to figure out if this decision is right is to ask Mary, before and after the Olympics. She has made her feelings clear before the proceedings began, she’d rather go into it with Atkinson. If she feels the same way after this is over, we will have our answer.

Bottomline, she is the one in the ring. She has to carry our expectations and roll with the punches. If anyone should be in a position to make the call, it is her. She should decide if she wants to defer to the judgment of others to dictate who will coach her or make the call herself.