Mary Kom’s Rio Olympics dream over after IOC denies boxer a wildcard entry

Five-time women’s boxing world champion and Olympics bronze-medalist MC Mary Kom will not be competing at the 2016 Rio Olympics after her wildcard entry was denied, according to AIBA ad-hoc committee chairman Kishen Narsi. “It is the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ruling and we have to respect that. Sadly, our pride, Mary Kom will not be able to participate in the Olympics and we have to respect that.” Narsi was quoted as saying by The Times of India.  [caption id=“attachment_2851282” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File photo of Mary Kom. Reuters[/caption] “It is the decision made by the IOC that nations which has not had more than eight boxers in the last two games will be granted the card. India had eight boxers in London itself with seven men and Mary Kom among the pugilists qualifying,” he added. The Narsi-led AIBA had officially sent in a request for Mary Kom to be given a wild card through an official invitation known as the Tripartite Commission Invitation Place. The letter sent by the AIBA talked about Mary Kom’s appeal on a global level and how her five world championships were worthy of adding value to the Rio Olympics. “…our humble request to AIBA is to consider her participation in Rio as a special case wherein a world class athlete who has 5 world titles in her bag and 16 years of illustrious career that can add value to Rio Olympics with her swansong appearance as well…,” the letter added. When asked to comment, Mary Kom said that she was not looking to retire from the sport just yet. “I have been duly informed that I won’t be getting a wildcard for the Olympics. It is heartbreaking but it is something which I had no control on. I have to accept this decision but I am not quitting the sport right now. I will continue to compete till I am feeling fit and for the time being I think I am fit,” Mary Kom told PTI from Imphal. Mary Kom could not qualify through regular routes as she suffered a shock second round loss in the World Championship in May. “The ad-hoc committee has had a word with AIBA President Dr Ching Kuo Wu. It was always going to be tough to get a wildcard,” she said. The Manipuri was eyeing a swansong Olympic appearance at Rio before calling it quits but has changed her mind at least for the time being. “I am aware that retirement is something that would be talked about a lot but for the time being I have dropped the idea. Of course I would be spending more time at my academy training young kids but I will continue to devote as much time to my training as well,” Mary Kom said. She was most recently named one of the eight ambassadors of the World Championships, where she could progress only till the second round. “There are no competitions apart from Olympics this year. So I have a lot of time at hand to think and reflect. I will see how things go. It will all depend on my fitness, I feel fit right now. If I continue to feel the same way, I would continue for some time,” she said. She is the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in boxing after she won a bronze in the 2012 London Olympics. “I am not feeling good about how things have panned out but I am sure future is good for me,” she added.