Mary Kom May Skip Asian Games For Boxing World Championship

The legendary MC Mary Kom  was all set to lead a star-studded Indian women's boxing team in Italy for the upcoming Asian Games. But now she has hinted that she might give the 2018 game a miss.

After clinching a medal in Women’s Boxing at the  Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast last month, Kom is probably rethinking about the trip to Jakarta.

The chief coach of the women’s team, Raffaele Bergamasco, confirmed that the first Indian woman to win a boxing Gold in CWG is now totally focused  on the women’s boxing World Championship, which is slated to take place in New Delhi in November this year

Also Read: Not ready to hang up her gloves: Remembering Mary Kom’s finest Sporting Moments

“We believe that it will be difficult for Mary to compete in the 51kg category (there are only three categories in Asian Games boxing — 51kg, 57kg and 60kg). The competition in 51kg is quite tough with good boxers from Kazakhstan, Mongolia and South Korea. We feel that it won’t be in her best interests to go up from 48kg to 51kg at this stage. It’s important for her to remain fit and keep up her good performances in her weight category,” Bergamasco told TOI from Assisi.

I am so grateful for the things you did for me. 👍 Fabio Morbidini & Aayush Yekhande
I express my gratitude, I will not forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. pic.twitter.com/NOFdPGfTor

— Mary Kom OLY (@MangteC) May 25, 2018

“Magnificent Mary” is currently at the Olympic Performance Training Centre in Assisi, Italy, prepping for the Asian Games with other women pugilists from India

“It is very important to work on strength and movement. At this moment, performance is not as important as the preparation for the Asian Games,” coach Bergamasco shared.

When I am fit, more power and speed follows. #HumFitToIndiaFit @Ra_THORe @PMOIndia @narendramodi @NSaina pic.twitter.com/s7ZBokT6Iy

— Mary Kom OLY (@MangteC) May 22, 2018

Olympic bronze medallist and five-time world champion Kom had earlier won the gold medal in the Asian Boxing Championships in Vietnam in November last year. She claimed the one medal that was missing from her pile of trophies thus far and now is eyeing on winning one Olympic gold.

The mother-of-three is eyeing yet another world title to her name, especially after winning the Asian Championships and Commonwealth Games. Wishing Mary Kom all the best!

Also Read: Does India take its sportswomen seriously?

Read More Stories By Ria Das