New Delhi: Six-time World Champion MC Mary Kom and Lovlina Borgohain have been selected for the upcoming women’s World Boxing Championships based on their recent performances, a decision that has been lambasted by former junior World Champion Nikhat Zareen.
The 36-year-old Mary Kom, who has already claimed two gold medals this year (India Open and a recent tournament in Indonesia) has been selected in the 51kg category. World and Asian bronze medallist Borgohain will be competing in the 69kg category.
The 23-year-old Zareen, who claimed a silver medal at a tournament in Thailand recently, was hoping to challenge Mary Kom in the 51kg trials. The Hyderabadi, in a letter to Boxing Federation of India (BFI), alleged that she was ‘stopped from competing’ in a scheduled trial bout Tuesday against Vanlal Duati by chairman of selectors Rajesh Bhandari.
Bhandari, on his part, asserted that the decision to select Mary Kom had been taken days earlier in consultation with the BFI top brass. The World Championships are scheduled October 3 to 13 in Russia.
“We got a representation from Mary Kom’s coach (Chhotelal Yadav) and after considering it, we felt that Mary Kom had done enough to merit selection without trials. The BFI has been consulted on this matter,” Bhandari told this agency, Wednesday.
“She beat Nikhat (Zareen) in the India Open (semifinals) and is consistently better than others in the national camp as well. Nikhat is also a brilliant boxer and she will have her chances in the time to come. But right now, it’s a call based purely on performance and experience,” Bhandari pointed out.
In her letter Zareen said the turn of events has left her stunned. “To my utter surprise and disappointment, I was informed just before the bouts were supposed to start by the chairman of the selection committee, Mr Rajesh Bhandari that my bout will not happen today and there are some internal discussions happening to ensure I’m protected for future and avoid getting exposed at a young age…,” wrote Zareen.
Zareen called on the BFI to hold a trial, which will continue for other weight categories till Thursday. “I only request that a fair trial should happen for all boxers under your leadership. If there is a rule for all of us, it needs to be consistent for all of us irrespective of whatever stature a particular boxer is (sic),” said Zareen.
PTI