Mary Kom wishes to compete in Asian Games before retirement; BFI president assures 'wonderful' farewell

Mary Kom on Monday made her wishes apparent that the decorated Indian boxer wants to compete in the Asian Games or any of the big tournaments.

"Asian Games is in my plans certainly, I think I will recover in time (from ACL tear surgery) for that and will have the time to prepare for it," Mary Kom said during an International Boxing Association press conference in New Delhi on Monday. "I should be fit by April and after that, I wish to compete in Asian Games and other tournaments before I retire."

The 40-year-old boxer, who competes in the light flyweight and flyweight (48 and 50kg respectively) categories, isn't part of the Indian squad for the upcoming World Boxing Championships, which is starting in New Delhi from March 15.

Reigning World Champion Nikhat Zareen (50kg) and Commonwealth Games champion Nitu Ghanghas will be competing in the categories unchallenged since Mary Kom went on a sabbatical due to injury post-Tokyo Olympics.

Mary Kom, in fact, hasn't competed at the international level since her Tokyo Olympics second-round defeat in 2021 and currently serves as the Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha).

Mary Kom underwent reconstructive surgery last year in August on her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear on the left knee as the six-time World Champion twisted it during her Commonwealth Games 2022 trials' first bout.

Speaking of her injury, the boxer said the worst of days are behind her and she is hopeful to start training again soon.

"I am not thinking about the sad part that is the injury and the positive is I am recovering really well. I think I will be able to train and run very soon. I am going to try my level best to compete and face any boxer in my category. Before I retire, I wish to compete in Asian Games. If not, any other international boxing competition is also fine by me," she further said.

Boxing Federation of India president Ajay Singh added that from their end they will help Mary Kom in recovery and will ensure that the boxer gets the farewell she deserves.

"From the side of the Boxing Federation of India, we will fully support her recovery process," said Singh at the same conference. "We will fully support her desire to box again and from our side, we will try to give her a wonderful send-off.

Mary Kom may consider professional boxing

When asked if Mary Kom will consider professional boxing after retirement, the Olympic bronze medallist said she will give it a thought but it's not on her mind at the moment.

"I will think about it later because pro boxing is also not easy. It's easier in the sense that you only have to fight once or twice in a year and you make a lot of money," said the boxer.

Her last major medal was the 2021 Dubai Asian Championships silver medal after a bronze at the 2019 World Championships in Ulan-Ude.

Mary Kom until recently was also chairing the sports ministry's oversight committee, which was entrusted with the task of investigating serious allegations of sexual abuse, financial irregularities, and elite athletes' mismanagement levelled against the Wrestling Federation of India and its president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.