New Delhi: Olympic medallist pugilist MC Mary Kom on Monday said she has decided to quit boxing after the 2016 Rio Olympic Games as her body would not be able to cope with the rigours of the sport any further.
The 32-year-old has been giving hints for some time that she may hang up her boxing gloves but on Monday she made it clear that the Rio Games next year will be her last competitive event.
"I have decided that I will quit after 2016 Olympics. Rio Games will be my last competitive event and I will not continue after that," Mary said at the launch of a social media campaign.
"My third child is two years old and I think it's enough for me. Who would have faced the rigours of competitive boxing after having three children? I want to bring happiness to the people of this country by winning a gold in Rio. I want to win a gold there and so I thought of continuing till 2016 Games," added Mary, who won a bronze medal in 2012 London Olympics.
If I talk about Sarita, there will be controversies: Mary Kom
After the Rio Games, she said she would concentrate on her boxing academy set up in Imphal which is expected to be inaugurated shortly by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"I have planned out what to do after Rio Olympics. I will give my full time to my academy. I want to produce more Mary Koms, more world champions. I will also be available to support any social cause," she said.
"The Prime Minister told me to inform him before the inauguration of my academy. The academy is in the final phase of completion and I am expecting him to inaugurate it," Mary asserted.
The diminutive boxer expressed disappointment at the infighting prevalent in the boxing community in the country and said the pugilists were the only sufferers.
I am thankful to Barack Obama for mentioning me: Mary Kom
Asked what's the future of Indian boxing, she said, "What do I say? There is infighting in the federation. Some would say to do this and others will say to do that. The boxers are confused and they don't know what to do. Unless there is unity, we will not get anything. Boxers are the only sufferers."
Mary said she is yet to start "proper training" but would start doing that once her boxing academy is inaugurated.
"I am yet to start proper training. I am doing whatever is required to maintain fitness. I have to make myself to a level of fitness before starting proper training which I think will begin next month," she said.
"Asian Championship and World Championship are coming up and they will act as qualifiers for the Rio Olympics. So, I have to do well in these tournaments to qualify for the Rio Olympics," she said.
Asked if she was thinking of setting up boxing academies in other states of the country, Mary added: “It is very difficult to set up an academy. It is very expensive. It is even more expensive to maintain it. Let me first inaugurate my academy in Manipur.
"I am not setting up the academy in Manipur to earn money. I am helping poor youngsters who cannot afford to take up boxing. If somebody can help me, I can open boxing academies in other states. Or I can help other people to open academies," said the boxer who considers legendary professional heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali as her idol.
