Mary Kom alleged Regional Bias Against Her

"Sometimes I feel very upset. Some of the referees and judges do not favour me but I don’t mind. Okay I am from north-east, no problem, but I am still an Indian" - Mary Kom

Boxing star,  Olympic bronze medallist MC Mary Kom gets emotional during a fund-raising event in Mumbai on Wednesday night and accused the Indian selectors of regional bias during boxing selection and trails.

Mary Kom alleged that Haryana's Pinky Jangra is being repeatedly favoured by the selectors.

"There are so many controversies. Pinky Jangra, I always defeat her and prove it to get a gold medal in every competition but they (boxing selectors) continue to support her," she said.

"I will show who I am in the ring, that's all. I don't want to fight outside the ring actually. Whether this is fair or not fair.... well sometimes I feel very upset whether some of the referees/judges are not favour to me... But I doesn't mind (sic)," she said. "Okay, I am from northeast, no problem. But I'm Indian, I'm doing well in the ring."

Boxing star Mary Kom gets emotional as badminton player PV Sindhu tries to cheer her up (Photo: PTI)

Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Sarbananda Sonowal said on Thursday that there was no question of anybody discriminating against Manipur-based champion boxer Mary Kom or any other player taking part in the forthcoming Olympics in Rio, Brazil, and added that all players will get full financial or any other support they require to perform to the best of their ability ahead of the 2016 Games.

“From our ministry side, whatever support the players are asking by submitting their proposal and also the federation we are fully supporting them. That’s why we are giving the adequate budget to all the federation. So, in the near future they ask anything more we are ready to support so this is the objective we have already set and this is the target we have set for the Rio Olympics,” Sonowal told media.

This is not the first time Mary Kom has spoken out against boxing’s biased selection process. The bronze medalist from the London Olympics in 2012 was dropped from the contingent that represented India at the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
Pinky Jangra was given her spot after she beat Mary in a bout she claimed was poorly scored.

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