Six-time World Boxing Champion Mary Kom dismisses retirement rumors

Boxer M.C. Mary Kom, a six-time world champion and bronze medallist at the London Olympics, has denied claims in the media that she is retiring from competition.

“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”, Mary declared.

The renowned Indian boxer Mary Kom clarified her remarks made at a public event on Wednesday and denied rumours that she had declared her retirement on Thursday, January 25. Mary Kom stated that she emphasised the fact that she is too old to compete in the Olympics.

Mary clarified her statement which she made at an event on Wednesday.

“I was attending a school event at Dibrugarh on January 24 where I was motivating children. I said I still have the hunger of achieving (laurels) in sports but the age limit in the 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”, she said.

Kom is the first Indian woman boxer to earn a medal in the sport and has won six world championship titles. Kom took home the bronze medal from the London 2012 Olympics.

At 18, she started competing internationally and made it to the finals of her first world championship. Despite not winning that time, she went on to win bronze at the 2012 Olympics and World Championships in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2018. After taking breaks to deliver a baby, Mary came back to win the sixth global title in 2018 and the eighth world medal in 2019, which stood as the record for boxers.