After losing in the flyweight (48-51kg) division despite winning two of the three rounds, Mary Kom blasted the International Olympic Committee's Boxing Task Force for "bad judging.”
MC Mary Kom, a six-time world champion, may have withdrawn from the Tokyo Olympics, but the Indian boxing legend has no plans to retirement. On July 29, she lost a tough fight to Colombia's Ingrit Valencia in the women's flyweight pre-quarterfinals, ending her bid for a second Olympic medal.
When asked if she plans to return to boxing, the 38-year-old told said "Yes, yes. Why not? What's to stop you? I still have the age. I can play till 40 years old.”
Poor Judging
After losing in the flyweight (48-51kg) division despite winning two of the three rounds, Mary Kom blasted the International Olympic Committee's Boxing Task Force for "bad judging." After the International Boxing Association (AIBA) was suspended for alleged mismanagement and financial malfeasance, the IOC committed the boxing competitions at the Tokyo Olympics to the Boxing Task Force.
The 38-year-old was in shock that she had lost the contest. Columbian pugilist Ingrit Valencia won the match 3-2 and went to the quarter-finals. Mark Kom was down 4-1 in the opening round, with four of the five judges scoring it 10-9 in favour of the Columbian. The Manipuri won the next two rounds, with three of the five judges siding with the bronze medalist from the 2012 London Olympics. Valencia, on the other hand, had a slight advantage over Mary Kom in the overall standings.
In order to win the contest, the Indian boxer required a 4-1 decision in the final round. The previous round has come to a conclusion. Mary Kom believed she had won after clinching the second round after losing the first, but her Columbian opponent was named the winner. "How was it 3-2 in the second round? I should have gotten it unanimously.”
"What occurred was very unexpected," a disappointed Mary Kom remarked. The multiple Asian Champion said the judgement had been rigged and that it was "cheating." The worst aspect, she added, was that there was no opportunity for review or objection.
Asked to change ring dress
No Plans Of Retirement
Mary Kom, on the other hand, has no intention of retiring. She promised to take a break, spend time with her family, and then return. "If there is any competition," she remarked, "I will continue and try my luck." Boxers over the age of 40 are currently ineligible to compete in the Olympics. Mary Kom's loss is heartbreaking, but she is already a superstar, according to former Sports Minister Narinder Batra.