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Mary Kom sets her sights on gold at Rio Olympics

Indian boxer makes a trip to Dubai for International Yoga Day

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India’s No. 1 woman boxer Mary Kom took time out from her busy schedule on the trip to Dubai to speak to Khaleej Times. — Photo by Dhes Handumon

Dubai — She comes across as a very soft-spoken, affable and easily approachable person. Unlike cricketers, she throws no tantrums nor has airs about being a five-time world amateur boxing champion. In fact she is most happy to give an interview or simply pose for a photograph. Her smile reveals the kindness and greatness of the person that she is and the background she comes from. But behind that façade is a strong and iron-fisted woman who has floored many an opponent in the ring.

Yes we are talking of India’s pride — the ‘Magnificent’ Mary Kom. The 32-year-old boxer is in Dubai to celebrate International Yoga Day on Sunday.

Mary took time out from her busy schedule to speak to Khaleej Times on her goal of achieving a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, which will be her last Olympics, and her plans after retirement.

“My goal is to win the gold medal in Rio. My nation expects me to do it and I will try my best to achieve it. It’s my dream to win a gold. But whether I win it (gold) or not it will be my last Olympics as after that I will give all my time to my academy — Mary Kom Regional Boxing Foundation — and my children,” said the mother of three.

India’s No. 1 woman boxer was in no mood to get into any controversy about her missing the national camp in New Delhi which has appeared in some sections of the media in India.

Clearing the air, Mary said, “there is some miscommunication”.

“I’ve not attended camps for many years now and that’s because I prepare alone and I feel much better.

“I can attend (the camp) but I feel by doing (training) separately I am able to focus much more and the coach too can tell me my weaknesses and strengths and accordingly make my schedule.

“In the camp there might be three to four coaches for say 20 to 30 boxers so they are not able to give enough time to each boxer,” said the 2014 Asian Games gold medalist.

According to Mary the Asian Games was not tough but the Manipuri feels that in the coming years women boxers from China, Kazakhstan and even India will make a mark on the world stage.

“The world championships are getting tougher and so is the Olympics,” said Mary, who won bronze at the 2012 Games in the flyweight (51kg) category in London.

Coming back to Rio 2016, Mary said, “I’m preparing very good these days and I’m trying to get more fitter and fitter and working out on minimising my weaknesses.”

Mary was of the opinion that yoga should be a part of the training for sportspeople. “We do exercise and stretch and all that but yoga gives you an inner sense of feel-good factor. “The thing is we don’t have time for it (yoga) due to the demands of our sport. After doing yoga one feels very relaxed and one also recovers from body aches and pains. However, I’m trying to make it a part of my training and hope to continue with it.”

Mary will begin preparations for the Olympic qualifying tournament which begins in December followed by the qualifiers for the World Championships which will take place in February 2016.

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