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The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna that MC Mary Kom got this year must have been gratifying for the boxer, but an Olympic gold is what she has always yearned for.
The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna that MC Mary Kom got this year must have been gratifying for the Manipuri boxer, but an Olympic gold is what she has always yearned for.
On Thursday, Mary Kom’s dream of having a shot at the coveted medal came closer to fruition when International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge announced that women’s boxing would be included in the 2012 London Olympics.
Mary Kom, 26, a four-time world champion in the 46-kg category, gives hope to a nation that earned its first individual Olympic gold only at the Beijing games last year — through ace marksman Abhinav Bindra.
Although the Olympics are three years away, Mary Kom can be expected to maintain her high standards and cope with the challenge of competing in a heavier weight category as the lightest one approved for the games is 48-51 kg, 56-60 kg and 69-75 kg being the other categories (subject to the International Boxing Association’s approval).
“It’s a dream come true. I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. I thought women’s boxing would be included in Beijing, but it wasn’t,” said Mary Kom about the IOC’s throwing open the only Olympic discipline barred for women till now.
“Increasing weight will not be a problem and my main aim will be to remain fit till 2012. From now on, my training efforts will be directed towards preparing for the London games. God willing, I will grab a gold for the country,” Kom said.
Backing Kom, Indian Boxing Federation secretary Col Muralidhar Raja said: “Mary Kom will have to adjust to a higher weight category but knowing her mental strength, we can expect her to be one of the favourites.” But he said competition was bound to increase because more countries would now take women’s boxing seriously. “People will work much harder, but I think we have quite a few boxers who have been inspired by Mary and want to emulate her. I think we have a good chance of winning more than one medal with the likes of L Sarita Devi around.”
As for Rogge, he felt it was the right time to introduce the sport in the Olympics. “The sport has progressed tremendously in the last five years and it is about time to include it in the games,” he said about the discipline, which was an exhibition sport in the 1904 Olympics.
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