The world has been mourning ever since morning over the passing away of perhaps the greatest sportsperson that ever lived, Muhammad Ali. The 74-year-old, who was hospitalised on Friday due to a respiratory disorder, breathed his last night, leaving not just the sporting fraternity, but the public in general, in a state of mourning.
Paying her tribute to him, Indian boxer and 2012 Olympic bronze medalist MC Mary Kom expressed sadness over his demise and added that she was inspired by him to take up the sport.
"Most of the boxers are inspired by him. Me also, I was inspired by him to take up boxing, his struggles and the hard work he took in his boxing career," Mary told NDTV.
"We feel very, very sad that he is no more. We will always remember his contribution to boxing... I will always remember him and keep him in my heart," she added.
2008 Beijing bronze medalist Vijender Singh also reacted to the news, stating that his contribution to the sport will never be forgotten nor will the work he did outside the boxing ring.
"Muhammad Ali was a legend and a legend never dies. All that he did for the sport will never be forgotten. In fact his work even outside the ring has immortalised him. He did so much for so many," he said.
Shiva Thapa, the only Indian thus far to have booked a berth for Rio 2016, also paid his tribute to the great man, stating that whenever one uttered the word, ‘boxing’, it was his name that came up first on everybody’s mind.
"It really saddens me that a huge legend is no more between us. But greats never die, they live on for all that they have done in their lifetime. He will always be alive in the hearts of people because he touched so many lives with all that he did. He may not be there in person anymore but his spirit will live on because every time someone would say boxing, the first name to come to mind would be Ali," he said.
2006 Commonwealth Games Gold took to Twitter to pay his tribute.
