She missed two chances to book a Rio berth - in March at Asian Zone Qualifiers and last month at the World Championships.
She missed two chances to book a Rio berth - in March at Asian Zone Qualifiers and last month at the World Championships.
New Delhi:
Her last hope for an Olympic berth might be over after the denial of a wildcard, but star Indian woman boxer M C Mary Kom on Thursday said she would not hang up her gloves just yet.
The 33-year-old five-time world champion could not make the cut for Rio via the two qualifiers and last-ditch attempts by the Indian Olympic Association and the ad-hoc committee administering boxing in India to fetch her a wildcard entry also fell through after the IOC declined the request.
-"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 said from Imphal.
The London Olympic bronze-medallist missed two chances to book a Rio berth - first in March at the Asian Zone Qualifiers and then last month at the World Championships.
After this, the IOA and the ad-hoc committee approached the International Boxing Association (AIBA) for a Tripartite Commission Invitation Place, which happened to be just one in her category.
-"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.
Without doubt the biggest name in Indian women's boxing, Mary Kom has been a much celebrated name internationally as well. The diminutive boxer was dubbed 'Magnificent Mary' by the AIBA after she claimed a historic fifth world title.
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.
-"I am not feeling good about how things have panned out but I am sure future is good for me,-" she added.
