Indian boxing legend Mary Kom has refuted recent media reports claiming her retirement from the sport. The six-time world champion and 2012 Olympic medalist clarified that she has not made any official retirement announcement and labeled the reports as misquotes.
“I haven’t announced retirement yet, and I have been misquoted. I will personally come in front of the media whenever I want to announce it. I have gone through some media reports stating that I have announced retirement, and this is not true,” stated Mary Kom, as reported by ANI.
Boxing champion Mary Kom says, “I haven’t announced retirement yet and I have been misquoted. I will personally come in front of media whenever I want to announce it. I have gone through some media reports stating that I have announced retirement and this is not true. I was… pic.twitter.com/VxAcFsq44v
— ANI (@ANI) January 25, 2024
The confusion arose from media coverage of an event in Dibrugarh where Mary Kom was quoted discussing her continued passion for the sport and the challenges posed by the age limit for Olympic participation. The reports misinterpreted her statements as an official retirement declaration.
“I was attending a school event in Dibrugarh on 24 January 2024 wherein I was motivating children, and I said, ‘I still have the hunger of achieving in sports, but the age limit in Olympics doesn’t allow me to participate, though I can carry on with my sport. I am still focusing on my fitness, and whenever I will announce retirement, I will inform everyone,'” clarified Mary Kom.
She expressed her desire to continue competing but acknowledged the age limit set by the International Boxing Association (IBA) for Olympic participation. Mary Kom, at 41, is currently above the age limit specified by the IBA for Olympic athletes. However, she emphasized her ongoing commitment to the sport and hinted at potential future involvement in professional boxing.
“I still have the spirit to play one to two years or even four years. I could not compete this year due to the age bar, I missed a lot of competitions. I had a major injury, an ACL, and after recovery, I missed a lot of competitions like Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and World Championships,” she explained.
Mary Kom’s outstanding career includes numerous accolades, with six world titles and eight World Championships, making her one of the most decorated boxers in the history of women’s boxing. While the confusion around retirement rumors has been clarified, Mary Kom’s contributions to the sport remain a testament to her enduring legacy.
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