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Tokyo Olympics: Mary Kom questions change of ring dress before pre-quarters bout

Veteran asks why she was asked to alter her attire "just a minute before" her fight with Colombia's Ingrit Valencia

Our Bureau Published 30.07.21, 10:43 AM
Mary Kom.

Mary Kom. File Photo.

Legendary Indian boxer Mary Kom has kicked up a storm by questioning why she was asked to change her ring dress "just a minute before her pre'quarters" bout on Thursday.

The 38-year-old, who lost to Colombia's Ingrit Valencia in the round of 16, took to Twitter to say, "Surprising..can anyone explain what will be a ring dress. I was ask to change my ring dress just a minute before my pre qtr bout can anyone explain. @PMOIndia @ianuragthakur @KirenRijiju @iocmedia @Olympics."

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Kom slams IOC Boxing Task Force

The six-time world champion on Thursday slammed the International Olympic Committee's Boxing Task Force for "poor judging" in her flyweight (51kg) pre-quarterfinal, which she lost despite winning two of the three rounds.

The Task Force is conducting the boxing competition in Tokyo after the International Boxing Association (AIBA) was suspended by the IOC for alleged misgovernance and financial wrongdoing. "I don't know and understand this decision, what's wrong with the Task Force? What's wrong with the IOC?" she asked in a telephonic interview to PTI after the 2-3 loss to Colombian Ingrit Valencia in the pre-quarters in Tokyo.

"I was also a member of the Task Force. I was even giving them suggestions and supporting them in ensuring a clean competition. But what have they done with me?" she said.

The 38-year-old, multiple-time Asian champion who was eyeing her second Olympic medal after the bronze at the 2012 London Games, said the loss did not sink in even after she had gone for her dope test. "I was happy inside the ring, when I came out, I was happy because in my mind I knew I had won. When they took me for doping, I was still happy. Only when I saw the social media and my coach (Chhote Lal Yadav repeated it to me), it sunk in that I have lost," she said.

"I had beaten this girl twice in the past. I couldn't believe that her hand was raised by the referee. I swear, it hadn't struck me that I lost, I was so sure," she added.

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