MC Mary Kom: Didn’t know I lost

MC Mary Kom realised she lost her Last-16 bout to Ingrit Valencia only at the dope test later; six-time world champ slams poor judging for defeat after winning two of three rounds

Six-time world champion MC Mary Kom on Thursday slammed the International Olympic Committee’s Boxing Task Force for “poor judging” in her flyweight (51kg) pre-quarterfinal at the Tokyo Games 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 multiple-time Asian champions 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.

“The worst part is that there is no review or protest. Honestly, I am sure the world must have seen, this is too much what they have done,” she said.

But the veteran is in no mood to quit despite her Olympic journey coming to an end with the Tokyo edition. At present, boxers above 40 are not eligible to compete at the Games. “I will take a break after coming back, spend time with family. But I am not quitting,” she said.

Satish sails into boxing quarters

Indian boxer Satish Kumar (+91kg) eased into the quarter-finals of his debut Olympic Games, defeating Jamaica’s Ricardo Brown in his opening bout here on Thursday. In the battle of two debutants, Satish prevailed 4-1, a comfortable win for him despite the split verdict. The two-time Asian Championships bronze-winner Indian was helped by Brown’s poor footwork throughout the bout though he did end up sustaining a cut on his forehead. Next up for Satish is Uzebkistan’s Bakhodir Jalolov.

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