New Delhi, July 30 (IANS) Mary Kom, four-time world boxing champion and a brand ambassador for the New Delhi Commonwealth Games, is disappointed that there is no women’s event for her to win a medal at the Oct 3-14 Games. She has her eyes set on the London Olympics in 2012.
Mary said she would miss an opportunity to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games and that leaves her to set her eyes on the gold at the London Olympics, the only piece of metal missing from her medal showcase, which has world and Asian medals.
‘We could have won so many medals in women’s boxing had the event been included in the New Delhi Games. I am disappointed that I will not be boxing when India is hosting the event,’ said Mary, who was made one of the brand ambassadors of Commonwealth Games a couple of days ago.
‘I have achieved almost all a woman boxer can think of, except an Olympic medal. I am confident I will be able to grab one at the London Games,’ said Mary at a function organised by Herbal Life, a global nutrition company, for which she is now the brand ambassador.
The road to success has not been easy for Mary. She took to boxing in 2000 and had to overcome quite a few hurdles before being accepted as a true champion.
‘No one supported me in Manipur, everyone made fun of women boxers. I took it up as a challenge. When I got married, people wanted me to quit boxing and my husband was the only one to support me.’
Mary has won all the major titles in the 46kg light featherweight category, but she now wants to shift to the 48kg featherweight category, starting with World Championships in Barbados in September.
‘I need to increase my weight now. I have also started taking supplements for the first time. My sponsors are taking good care of my diet,’ said Mary.
She is doing her bit for the sport she has excelled in for ten years. The champion boxer has set up a boxing academy to promote and train the aspiring boxers in the country .
